MR to visit Bodhi Gaya

26 January 2013 02:38 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 34 Bookmark

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President Mahinda Rajapaksa would visit Bodhi Gaya in India on February, Sri Lanka High Commissioner to India Prasad Kariyawasam, an Indian news agency PTI reported.

Mr. Kariyawasam revealed this during a meeting with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. “… President Mahinda Rajapaksa would visit Bodh Gaya on February 8 and had expressed keenness to meet him, which the chief minister readily agreed to,” he has said.

Meanwhile, during the meeting, the high commissioner had also said that resurgence of Bihar was widely appreciated in Sri Lanka and the pattern of growth in the state in the last five year is a learning experience.

The work done in the field of art, culture and tourism in the state has impressed Lankan tourists, Kariyawasam said after meeting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, according to an official statement here.

He said a large number of people from his country visit Bodh Gaya every year to have a glimpse of the sacred Bodhi tree and his countrymen were happy over expansion of tourism facilities in Bihar.

The chief minister told the Sri Lankan dignitary that the Bihar government was making efforts to give a new look to the ancient Nalanda university.

The Sri Lankan High Commissioner also thanked Kumar for successful conduct of the world Buddhist meet here early this month. The meet was inaugurated by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.