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.
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."
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.
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."
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.
Are Low Glycemic Index Diets Beneficial For Mental And Physical Well-Being? ISRO And Australian Space Agency Sign Implementation Agreement for Gaganyaan Crew Recovery 'Congress Has Failed, Mamata Banerjee Should Lead INDIA Bloc': Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee Clashes At Udaipur Palace Gates Over New Maharana's Face-Off With Cousin Wedding, Not Politics: Devendra Fadnavis Explains Quick Visit To Delhi The Impact Of Muslim Votes On Maharashtra Assembly Election Results Dictionary.com's Word Of The Year Chosen Mindfully, Here's What It Is 17-Year-Old Royal Bengal Tiger Dies At Tirupati Zoo J&K Bans Use Of WhatsApp, Gmail For Transmission Of Official Documents Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.