LUMBINI, Oct 30: Sir Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday visited Lumbini, the birthplace of lord Buddha, to inaugurate a monastery built by the Sri Lankan government.
Rajapaksa, who is on a three-day official visit of Nepal, also inspected the Lankan pilgrims´ guest house built in Lumbini.
Talking briefly to media persons, Rajapaksa said that he longed to visit Lumbini since his childhood and came to Nepal to fulfill his wish.
Rajapaksa said that development of Lumbini was not only the responsibility of Nepal but also the world, including Sri Lanka. He further said that the number of visitors from Sri Lanka to Lumbini would increase in the days to come. He also donated US$ 10,000 for the development of Lumbini at the personal level.
On the occasion, information officer of the Lumbini Development Fund Hari Dhoj Rai informed Rajapaksa about the Lumbini master plan.
Security was beefed up in Lumbini in view of Rajapaksa´s visit from early morning on Friday.
In Kathmandu, Rajapaksa called on President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal. The prime minister hosted a dinner in honor of the visiting president and members of the delegation. Rajapaksa is returning on Saturday after completing his three-day official visit.
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