(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) –Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa accompanied by his wife Shiranthi Rajapaksa yesterday offered prayers at the hill temple of Lord Venkateswara.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Joint Executive Officer V. Veerabrahmam and CVSO Gopinath Jatti, accorded him a traditional reception on his arrival at the main entrance of the temple and escorted him into the Sanctum Sanctorum where he paid his obeisance to the presiding deity. After his prayers, the Tirumala Veda pundits bestowed blessings amid chanting of Vedic hymns at Sri Ranganayaka Mandapam inside the temple premises.
The chief priest who honoured him with the Sesha Vastram of the deity also explained the significance of the deity and importance of the place.
He also made deposits into the Hundi. Later, the priests rendered Vedasirvachanams on the distinguished couple, while the authorities presented them with memento.
Andra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K.Narayana Swamy who was deputed as a special representative by the State Government to co-ordinate the high profile dignitary’s visit also accompanied him in the Darshan. The guests had arrived at the Renigunta Airport in Tirupati on Thursday afternoon. The Sri Lankan PM was given a warm welcome at the Srikrishna Guest House in Tirumala by Deputy Chief Minister Narayana Swamy, TTD Executive Officer A.V. Dharma Reddy, and other officials. -Agencies
