International Vesak Day: 'PM Modi one of our own', says Sri Lanka

On the second day of his Sri Lankan tour ,Prime Minister Narendra Modi today participated in the International Vesak Day celebrations, which is observed as one of the biggest festivals among Buddhists.

Prime Minister Modi joined the celebrations along with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Minister for Justice N Buddhashasana said "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of Sri Lanka's own and his presence today speaks of deep reverence for Buddhism."

He said both "Sri Lanka and India are working to create a peaceful region and that coincides with the goals of the United Nations of making harmony in the world."

Following the event, the Prime Minister will then inaugurate the Dickoya Hospital, which has been built with India's assistance and will late proceed to address the Indian-origin Tamil community at Norwood Grounds.

He will then meet representatives of the Ceylon Workers' Congress (TBC). Thereafter, the Prime Minister will also be holding a meeting with representatives of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TBC).

He will then arrive at the President's Palace for a lunch hosted by the Sri Lankan President.

This is Prime Minister Modi's second bilateral visit to Sri Lanka in two years. Yesterday, he visited the Seema Malaka at the Gangaramayya temple where he took part in the traditional lamp-lighting ceremony.

Prime Minister Modi will also visit Sri Dalada Maligawa Temple (The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic), where he will be signing the visitor's book and interact with Mahanayaks.

Before returning to India, the Prime Minister will be meeting the Sri Lankan Leader of Opposition at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo.

India will be giving an aid of $2.6 billion for the hospital. Sri Lanka's hilly regions home Indian Tamil people who work in tea plantains.