India-Sri Lanka ties are getting stronger and stronger across different sectors and this augurs well for the people of the two nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday after meeting Lankan minister Namal Rajapaksa.
The two leaders met in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar where the prime minister inaugurated an international airport.
In a tweet, Mr Rajapaksa said the greatest gift Sri Lanka received from India is Buddhism.
"We have always shared a close relationship between our nations and our people! It is the vision of HE President @GotabayaR & HE PM @narendramodi to strengthen this bond between our nations & our people," the Lankan Cabinet minister said.
The greatest gift Sri Lanka received from India is Buddhism! We have always shared a close relationship between our nations & our people! It is the vision of HE President @GotabayaR & HE PM @narendramodi to strengthen this bond between our nations & our people. ???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/Y4iU59XhWw
— Namal Rajapaksa (@RajapaksaNamal) October 20, 2021
Responding to Mr Rajapaksa's tweet, PM Modi said, "Happy to have met you in Kushinagar, @RajapaksaNamal. India-Sri Lanka ties are getting stronger and stronger across different sectors. This augurs well for the people of our nations."
Happy to have met you in Kushinagar, @RajapaksaNamal.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 20, 2021
India-Sri Lanka ties are getting stronger and stronger across different sectors. This augurs well for the people of our nations. https://t.co/WcpkLsM7TY
During his meeting with PM Modi, Mr Rajapaksa also handed over the first copy of the English Sinhala and Tamil translations of the Bhagavad Gita to the prime minister.
"The translation of the sacred text was commissioned by HE @PresRajapaksa as symbol of our people to people friendship and our cultural similarities," the Lankan minister tweeted.
Handed over the first copy of the English Sinhala & Tamil translations of the Bhagwad Gita to HE PM @narendramodi today. The translation of the sacred text was commissioned by HE @PresRajapaksa as symbol of our people to people friendship & our cultural similarities. ???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/KqDrEqsin4
— Namal Rajapaksa (@RajapaksaNamal) October 20, 2021
Responding to Mr Rajapaksa's tweet, PM Modi said, "This is a great initiative undertaken by my friend, @PresRajapaksa (Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa). The teachings of Lord Buddha unite our nations and make our planet better."
This is a great initiative undertaken by my friend, @PresRajapaksa.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 20, 2021
The teachings of Lord Buddha unite our nations and make our planet better. https://t.co/3b9dCF3sXj
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla greeted the Sri Lankan delegation led by Cabinet Minister Rajapaksa with over 100 Buddhist monks and dignitaries, carrying the Holy Buddha Relics for exposition.
Giving a push to the government's Buddhist tourism circuit initiative, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Kushinagar international airport in Uttar Pradesh and said a slew of measures are being taken to boost the country's aviation sector.
