Who was the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the United Nations Vesak Day celebrations held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 12 to 14 May?

Introduction / Context:
Vesak Day marks the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Gautama Buddha and is one of the most important days in the Buddhist calendar. The United Nations Vesak Day celebrations organised in different countries often invite important international leaders as chief guests. This question asks you to identify the leader who served as the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the Vesak Day celebrations held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, between 12 and 14 May in a particular year. It belongs to the area of international relations and religious and cultural diplomacy.

Given Data / Assumptions:
Key details provided are:
1. The event is the United Nations Vesak Day celebrations.
2. The venue is Colombo, Sri Lanka.
3. The dates are between 12 May and 14 May.
4. The options list four political figures: Bidhya Devi Bhandari, Sheikh Hasina, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and Narendra Modi.
5. We assume that the event was widely covered in news and that the chief guest was an important leader from a neighbouring country with historic Buddhist ties or strong diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka.

Concept / Approach:
The concept is to connect regional diplomacy and cultural events. India and Sri Lanka share deep historical links through Buddhism, and India participation in Buddhist events is part of its soft power. The approach is to recall that the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, was invited as the chief guest for the opening ceremony of the United Nations Vesak Day celebrations in Colombo during that period, highlighting India shared Buddhist heritage and regional ties. The other listed leaders do not match this specific role at that event.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Review the list of possible chief guests and link each person with their country and role. Step 2: Bidhya Devi Bhandari is the President of Nepal, another Buddhist heritage country, but she was not the chief guest at this particular Colombo event. Step 3: Sheikh Hasina is the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and has attended various international gatherings, but not as chief guest for this Vesak Day opening ceremony. Step 4: Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe is a Sri Lankan politician, but the question asks for the chief guest, typically a foreign dignitary for such a major event. Step 5: Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, was invited as the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the United Nations Vesak Day celebrations in Colombo between 12 and 14 May. Step 6: Therefore, the correct answer is Narendra Modi.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can recall news reports and speeches from that time, which mention Narendra Modi addressing the gathering in Colombo and highlighting the shared Buddhist heritage between India and Sri Lanka. The event was part of India broader outreach to Buddhist communities across Asia. None of the other names are associated in the same way with this particular Vesak celebration in Colombo, confirming that Narendra Modi is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Bidhya Devi Bhandari: She is the President of Nepal, but she was not reported as the chief guest at this specific United Nations Vesak Day opening ceremony in Colombo.
Sheikh Hasina: As the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, she participates in many international events, but she was not the chief guest at this Colombo Vesak celebration.
Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe: He is a Sri Lankan political figure, and while he may have taken part in the event, the term chief guest in international celebrations usually refers to a prominent foreign dignitary, which in this case was the Indian Prime Minister.

Common Pitfalls:
One common mistake is to select a leader from a predominantly Buddhist or closely placed country without remembering specific news about the event. Another is to assume the chief guest must always be from the host country. In high profile international celebrations, the chief guest is often a foreign leader invited to strengthen ties. To avoid these pitfalls, candidates should pay attention to current affairs involving major cultural or religious events, especially when they are linked to India foreign policy and regional diplomacy.

Final Answer:
The chief guest at the opening ceremony of the United Nations Vesak Day celebrations in Colombo was Narendra Modi.