PM Modi visits Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who today arrived here in Sri Lanka for a two-day visit, visited the Gangaramaya Temple.

Prime Minister Modi was accompanied by his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe to the temple.

Seema Malaka or the Gangaramaya Temple is a Buddhist temple constructed in the middle of the Beira Lake and the design was inspired by the ancient monasteries in forests of Anuradhapura and Ritigala.

Following the temple visit, the Indian Prime Minister will attend a private dinner with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena at 'Temple Trees', the latter's official residence.

On the second day of his visit, Prime Minister Modi will deliver a celebratory address at the Bandarnaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BIMCH) on the occasion of International Vesak Day.

The Prime Minister will then inaugurate the 15-bed Dickoya Hospital.

He will also 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).

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

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

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

The Prime Minister will also be visiting the hilly regions of Sri Lanka that host tea plantations.

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.