U Thant statue unveiling ceremony

Nepal, May 17, 2019: A statue of former United Nations Secretary-General U Thant was unveiled at Lumbini in Nepal on 17 May 2019. The statue is an initiative of the Lumbini Development Committee. Dr. Thant Myint-U attended the unveiling ceremony at the invitation of the Government of Nepal.

U Thant visited Lumbini in April 1967. He was the first to suggest its development as an international pilgrimage site and symbol of tolerance and world peace. He said then that visiting the birthplace of the Buddha was "one of the most important days of my life".

Dr. Thant Myint-U travelled first to Kathmandu on 16 May and he also participated in festivities around Vesak (Full Moon Day of Kason) led by the President of Nepal Bidhya Devi Bhandari.

(The photo is of U Thant with Nepal's King Mahendra and the Lumbini Master Plan that was developed by the UN and Nepal government).