President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the New York Buddhist vihara and participated in a religious ceremony.
The President who addressed the 65th UN General Assembly yesterday said the entire nation was focused on building peace and economic recovery following a three-decade civil war.
He urged the world leaders to reconsider the international humanitarian laws with regard to conflicts involving non-state actors such as the LTTE terrorist organization of Sri Lanka
After addressing the Assembly and holding discussions with world leaders he visited the New york Vihara and offered the Ata Pirikara maha sanga. Ven. Pandit Kurunegoda Piyatissa Nayaka thero and Walpola Piyananda thero and several other monks chanted pirith at the ceremony.
Sri Lankas External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, Ministers – Nimal Siripala de Silva, John Seneviratne - Permanent Representative to the UN Dr. Palitha Kohona, parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunge participated in the religious ceremony.