PM to kick-start 2-day-long Sri Lanka tour, says it reflects strong relationship

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Photo: AP/File)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to begin a two-day trip to Sri Lanka. Ahead of his visit PM asserted that “his visit to Sri Lanka is a sign of "strong relationship" between the two countries and brings to the fore the shared heritage of Buddhism”. During his visit, he will participate in the International Vesak Day celebrations, the biggest festival of Buddhists, inaugurate a hospital built with Indian assistance and address the Indian-origin Tamil community, besides attending some other programmes. PM wrote a Facebook post hours ahead of his trip, where he wrote “This will be my second bilateral visit there in two years, a sign of our strong relationship”. "During my visit, I will join the International Vesak Day celebrations in Colombo on 12th May, where I will interact with leading Buddhist spiritual leaders, scholars and theologians," PM Modi wrote. "My visit brings to the fore one of the most abiding links between India and Sri Lanka - the shared heritage of Buddhism," he said. He said it was an honour for him to join these celebrations with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. PM Modi’s last trip to Sri Lanka was in 2015. Recalling his last visit PM added that during his last visit he had an opportunity to visit Anuradhapura, a UNESCO world heritage site and a leading centre of Buddhism for centuries. "This time, I will be privileged to pay respect at the revered Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, also known as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic," he said. He said his trip will commence in Colombo with a visit to Gangaramayya temple where he will participate in traditional lamp-lighting ceremony. He will be meeting with Sirisena, Wickremesinghe and other eminent dignitaries, he said. "I will also visit the up country region of Sri Lanka where I will inaugurate the Dickoya Hospital that has been built with Indian assistance, and have an interaction with the Indian-origin Tamil community," Modi said.