Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, is an important milestone in collaboration between the two countries jointly inauguration and proclaiming major India -backed railway projects in Anuradhapura on Sunday.
At a formal ceremony held at Anuradhapura railway station, the two leaders launched two major projects-the advanced railway track of the Maho-Omon Line and the newly constructed signaling system for the Maho-Anurradhapura segment.
Both projects were executed with Indian assistance and expected to improve connectivity and security in the Northern Rail Network.
A large crowd of enthusiastic locals gathered at the station to welcome the leaders, many of whom captured the moment on his phone as the Prime Minister and the President of Lanka.
Railway projects have been implemented by IRCON International Limited, a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.
Talking to IANS, IRCON CMD Hari Mohan Gupta said, “Today is a very lucky day that our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and the Sri Lankan president are dedicated to an advanced railway project extending up to 128 km simultaneously, which was earlier in a very poor condition.”
“This is a moment of great respect for India and Sri Lanka,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi and President Dissanayake visited the revered Jaya Shri Maha Bodhi Temple to seek blessings.
The temple, a major spiritual and civilized site, is believed to have grown in the houses of the holy Bodhi tree that he was grown from a plant brought from India by Emperor Ashoka’s daughter Thery Sanghamitta.
As a mark of goodwill, the chief priest of the temple tied the ‘Raksha Sutra’ (protective thread) on Prime Minister Modi’s wrist during the yatra.
Highlighting the symbolic nature of the yatra, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had said, “President Dsnayake and the Prime Minister will travel together in the historic city of Anuradhapura. They will pay their honors at Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Temple, which holds a special significance in Bantweight in India.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi arrived in Anuradhapura in a formal guard of honor presented by the Sri Lankan Air Force.
Sharing a moment from the visit, Prime Minister Modi posted a picture on X with the Lankan President, stating, “My friend, President Anura in Anuradhapura with Kumara Disnayake.”
The two leaders held extensive discussions in Colombo on Saturday, which aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields.
After the talks, Prime Minister Modi was honored with the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhan, one of the highest civilian honors of the island nation – the Prime Minister’s personal contribution to the recognition of unwavering support and bilateral relations of India.
This day saw the signature and exchange of several memorandum of memorandum (MUS), the two leaders jointly unveiled new India-supported initiatives in infrastructure, energy and development fields.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is published by a syndicated feed.)
