Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday jointly inaugurated a railway line and flagged off construction of an advanced railway signalling system in Anuradhapura in central Sri Lanka.
The two India-financed railway projects are part of India's efforts to boost infrastructure in the neighbourhood.
The 128-km Maho-Omanthai railway line has been refurbished with Indian assistance of $91.27 million while the Maho-Anuradhapura signalling system is being built with Indian assistance of $14.89 million, officials said.
These railway modernisation projects implemented under the India-Sri Lanka development partnership will strengthen north-south rail connectivity in Sri Lanka. They will facilitate fast and efficient movement of both passenger and freight traffic across the country, officials said.
Modi had travelled to the historic location of Anuradhapura on day three of his visit to Sri Lanka.
Modi along with Dissanayake also visited the Jaya Sri Mahabodhi temple in Anuradhapura and offered prayers at the revered Mahabodhi tree. The tree is believed to have grown from the Bo sapling that was brought to Sri Lanka by Sangamitta Maha Theri from India in the 3rd Century BCE. Anuradhapura is a world heritage site and one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Asia.
"Offered prayers at the sacred Jaya Sri Mahabodhi in Anuradhapura with President Dissanayake. It's a deeply humbling moment to be at one of the most revered sites in Buddhism. It is a living symbol of peace, enlightenment and spiritual continuity. May the teachings of Lord Buddha always guide us," Modi wrote on X.
From Anuradhapura Modi flew back to Tamil Nadu and enroute had a 'darshan' of the Ram Setu coinciding with Ram Navami on Sunday. Posting a video on X, the PM wrote: "On the way back from Sri Lanka a short while ago, was blessed to have a Darshan of the Ram Setu. And, as a divine coincidence, it happened at the same time as the Surya Tilak was taking place in Ayodhya."
"Blessed to have the Darshan of both. Prabhu Shri Ram is a uniting force for all of us. May His blessings always remain upon us," he added.
After landing in Tamil Nadu, Modi prayed at the Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram. He also inaugurated the New Pamban Bridge and flagged off the new Rameswaram-Tambaram (Chennai) train service on the occasion of Ram Navami.
The two India-financed railway projects are part of India's efforts to boost infrastructure in the neighbourhood.
The 128-km Maho-Omanthai railway line has been refurbished with Indian assistance of $91.27 million while the Maho-Anuradhapura signalling system is being built with Indian assistance of $14.89 million, officials said.
These railway modernisation projects implemented under the India-Sri Lanka development partnership will strengthen north-south rail connectivity in Sri Lanka. They will facilitate fast and efficient movement of both passenger and freight traffic across the country, officials said.
Modi had travelled to the historic location of Anuradhapura on day three of his visit to Sri Lanka.
Modi along with Dissanayake also visited the Jaya Sri Mahabodhi temple in Anuradhapura and offered prayers at the revered Mahabodhi tree. The tree is believed to have grown from the Bo sapling that was brought to Sri Lanka by Sangamitta Maha Theri from India in the 3rd Century BCE. Anuradhapura is a world heritage site and one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Asia.
"Offered prayers at the sacred Jaya Sri Mahabodhi in Anuradhapura with President Dissanayake. It's a deeply humbling moment to be at one of the most revered sites in Buddhism. It is a living symbol of peace, enlightenment and spiritual continuity. May the teachings of Lord Buddha always guide us," Modi wrote on X.
From Anuradhapura Modi flew back to Tamil Nadu and enroute had a 'darshan' of the Ram Setu coinciding with Ram Navami on Sunday. Posting a video on X, the PM wrote: "On the way back from Sri Lanka a short while ago, was blessed to have a Darshan of the Ram Setu. And, as a divine coincidence, it happened at the same time as the Surya Tilak was taking place in Ayodhya."
"Blessed to have the Darshan of both. Prabhu Shri Ram is a uniting force for all of us. May His blessings always remain upon us," he added.
After landing in Tamil Nadu, Modi prayed at the Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram. He also inaugurated the New Pamban Bridge and flagged off the new Rameswaram-Tambaram (Chennai) train service on the occasion of Ram Navami.
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