The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, accompanied by his cabinet minister Arumugan Thondaman and son Yoshita Rajapaksa, offered prayers in the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara on Tuesday morning.
The foreign dignitary reached the Mahadwaram at 5:50 am and was welcomed by Andhra Pradesh Minister P Ramachandra Reddy, temple EO Anil Kumar Singhal and Additional EO A V Dharma Reddy.
The EO spoke with the VIP dignitary about the retractable roof laid from Padikavili to the Dhwaja Mandapam to shield pilgrims from inclement weather conditions.
Later the Lankan Prime Minister had a darshan of the Lord along with his entourage during the Astadala Pada Padmaradahana and VIP Break.
After the darshan, vedic pundits offered Vedaseervachanam in the Ranganayakula Mandapam to the Prime Minister. He was also presented the teertha prasadams.
Rajapaksa was later given a ceremonious farewell from the Padmavathi Rest House.
Anil Kumar Singhal and Dharma Reddy were present during the farewell.