Second bilateral visit to Sri Lanka in two years a sign of our 'strong relationship', says Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Thursday begin his two-day Sri Lanka visit to attend International Vesak Day celebrations in Colombo with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the chief guest.

This will be Prime Minister Modi's second Sri Lanka visit. 

"I will be in Sri Lanka for a two-day visit starting today, 11th May. This will be my second bilateral visit there in two years, a sign of our strong relationship," said PM Modi in a Facebook post.

The Prime Minister stated that during his visit, he will interact with leading Buddhist spiritual leaders, scholars and theologians.

"It is my honour to join these celebrations with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe," Modi added.

The Prime Minister's visit will commence in Colombo with a visit to the Seema Malaka at the Gangaramayya temple where he will take part in the traditional lamp lighting ceremony.

He will also visit the up country region of Sri Lanka where he will inaugurate the Dickoya Hospital that has been built with Indian assistance, and have an interaction with the Indian origin Tamil community.

"During my last visit in 2015, I had the opportunity to visit Anuradhapura, a UNESCO world heritage site and a leading centre of Buddhism for centuries. This time, I will be privileged to pay respect at the revered Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, also known as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic," he said.

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.