Visit to Varanasi is important for Buddhist like me: Sri Lankan PM

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday offered prayers at Sarnath Buddhist Temple here during his visit to Varanasi. Security had been beefed up in the city ahead of his visit

Varanasi: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday offered prayers at Sarnath Buddhist Temple, Kashi Vishwanath Temple and other temples of Varanasi.

He visited Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi after holding talks with his Indian counterpart Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explore ways to further boost bilateral ties.

On his way to offer prayers at Sarnath Buddhist Temple, when ETV Bharat's reporter asked what did he liked most about the city, he replied, "Very important part, especially for a Buddhist like me."

After Varanasi and Sarnath, the Sri Lankan prime minister will travel to Bodh Gaya in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement, "On the morning of February 10, Rajapaksa will emplane for Bodh Gaya in Bihar -- where he will visit Mahabodhi Temple and Bodh Gaya Centre -- and later in the day to Tirupati."

This is the 74-year-old’s first visit to India since taking office in November last year.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited India in November which was his first official overseas trip after taking charge of the top office.