Madhya Pradesh to accord warm welcome to President

The Central Government and the State Government in Madhya Pradesh will accord a grand welcome to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on September 21, the Indian media reported yesterday.

Reports said that the state government is going ahead with its preparations to welcome the Sri Lankan President to the world heritage site of Sanchi, 45 kms from Bhopal, to inaugurate a Buddhist study centre.

Officials of the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, confirmed that the arrangements are under way. “The program will be held”, said Principal Secretary Culture K.K. Singh. Over 250 delegates from outside the country will take part in it, he added.

The President’s forthcoming visit to India will help strengthen the relations between the two countries which date back to over 2,000 years. This was most recently underscored by India’s decision to send the Sacred Kapilavastu Relics to Sri Lanka for a three-week exposition around the island. Although India no longer sends the relics for expositions overseas, the authorities there acceded to President Rajapaksa’s request and made an exception for Sri Lanka.