Modi will begin 2-day visit to Sri Lanka today

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go to Sri Lanka on a two-day visit beginning Thursday. During his visit, he is scheduled to attend the International Vesak Day celebrations, in which he will be the chief guest. Vesak is a Buddhist festival on the day of the full Moon in Sri Lanka, symbolising the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha. Mr Modi will also visit the holy Buddhist shrine of Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, in what is being seen as a major cultural outreach to the Sinhalas. Full report on Page 4

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for Sri Lanka on Thursday on a two-day visit to further deepen ties with the island nation where China has been trying to expand its influence.

The PM is visiting the country primarily to attend the biggest Buddhist festival “Vesak Day” as its chief guest. His schedule also includes a visit to the holy Buddhist shrine of Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth) in Kandy that houses a tooth of the Buddha.

At the same time, the two countries are looking for a permanent solution to the fishermen issue, with India putting forward a `1,500 crore-package to persuade its Indian Tamil fishermen to switch from the fishing practice of bottom-trawling to deep-sea fishing. The Union government and Tamil Nadu government are expected to contribute equally in financial terms for the project.

The PM may also meet representatives of Indianorigin Tamils in Kandy who work there in tea gardens and are descendants of labourers who were brought to the hill area by the British.