Homage to the Tooth Relic in Congo August, 4, 2021 The Silk Road Journal by Mahika Ming In August Sri Lankans will be paying homage to the Buddha’s tooth relic in Kandy with the Perahera pagent. The Buddha was a great philosopher who preached for the benefit of all especially the lowest levels in the society to overcome their grievances. The ceremony has in fact blessed the country in many ways including the inflow of hard currency through visiting foreign tourists. Due to the COVID – 19 pandemic most hard currency inflow channels have dried & only the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) related investment projects are on schedule in most struggling economies. Historically Sri Lankan elite have had serious conflicts about the ownership of the Tooth Relic but since independence many in the lower levels in the social pyramid have benefited with the financial resources related to the Tooth Relic.