Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena offers worship to Lord Venkateswara

TIRUPATI: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena offered prayers at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at nearby Tirumala early today.

Sirisena, accompanied by his wife Jayanthi Pushpa Kumari, arrived at the hills on a 12-hour pilgrimage last night. Some cabinet colleagues and officials too were with him during his visit here, temple officials said.

After an overnight halt in a TTD Guest House, the Sri Lankan President took part in the daily sacred "suprabhatha" recitation ritual conducted inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple by priests in the wee hours today, temple Deputy Executive Officer Chinnamgari Ramana told.

Later, he offered worship to the presiding deity of Lord Venkateswara, he said, adding that before leaving the shrine the Lankan President was presented with a sacred silk cloth, a holy photo and prasadams while the priests, amid chanting vedic hymns, blessed him.

Tight security arrangements were put in place all along the 35 km route leading to the airport from the hill temple. Sirisena is on a four-day visit to India, his first overseas trip after assuming office following his victory in the recent presidential elections.