Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena visits Mahabodhi temple

GAYA: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today visited Bodh Gaya and offered prayers under the Mahabodhi tree where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.

Sirisena spent about an hour at the temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site situated about 95 km from Patna, amidst tight security arrangements.

He prayed under Mahabodhi tree for 15 minutes, Arvind Kumar Singh, member of BodhGaya Temple Management Committee, who was in the team that accompanied the Lankan President at the temple, told PTI.

Sirisena, who was accompanied by his wife and 24 others, also went to the meditation park in the temple campus.

Mahabodhi Temple was built by Emperor Ashoka in around 260 BC.

Sirisena said this was his second visit to Bodh Gaya. Singh quoted him as saying "a person feels peace visiting the place."

After the hour-long stay at Bodh Gaya temple, Sirisena went to the Sri Lankan monastary in the vicinity where he attended a tea party hosted by Mahabodhi society in his honour.

From there, he headed straight to Gaya Airport and left for Tirupati in a special plane.