PM Narendra Modi returns home after three-nation tour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned home late last night after wrapping up his five-day three-nation tour to Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka.

The special Air India plane carrying the Prime Minister and his delegation from Colombo landed in New Delhi at 12.30 am.

During his Sri Lanka visit, Prime Minister Modi met with the Sri Lankan leadership, including President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and others.

He also visited the Maha Bodhi Temple to pray at the sacred Maha Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura, besides travelling to Jaffna to hand over 27,000 houses to Tamils. He also became the first Indian Prime Minister to pay tribute to martyred Indian Army soldiers at the IPKF Memorial in Colombo.

The houses in Jaffna were built with India's assistance for those who became homeless during the civil war in the island nation. Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Jaffna.

During his visit to Sri Lanka, Modi said the security of the two nations is indivisible and favoured a life of equality, justice and dignity for Tamils.

The Prime Minister also flagged off the first train from Talaimannar after the restoration of the North-South rail link that connects Jaffna with Colombo.

He also addressed the Sri Lankan Parliament. Modi began his three-nation tour from Tuesday, with visits to Seychelles and Mauritius.

In Seychelles, apart from bilateral talks, four agreements were signed.

In Mauritius, he met with that country's leadership, was present at the signing of of bilateral agreements, addressed the country's National Assembly and attended a public reception.