President arrives in Nepal for SAARC Summit, visits Lumbini

President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Nepal Tuesday ahead of the 18th SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Summit that is taking place in Kathmandu 25-27 November.
Nepali Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam welcomed the Sri Lankan President at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

President Rajapaksa received a Guard of Honour during the official welcome ceremony at the Nepali airport.
Soon after arriving in Nepal, President Rajapaksa visited Lumbini -the birthplace of the Lord Buddha – one of the most sacred places for Buddhists and participated in a number of events, with particular significance to Sri Lankan Buddhists.
President Rajapaksa first visited and prayed at the Maya Devi Temple, named after Queen Maha Maya, Lord Buddha’s Mother. Dating back to 623 B.C., this Temple houses the exact birthplace of Lord Buddha.
After the offering prayers at the Temple, the President attended a welcome ceremony organized by the Lumbini Development Trust.
Officials speaking at the function said they appreciated President Rajapaksa’s “keen personal interest and contribution to the development of Lumbini”.
On the way to the Sri Lankaramaya Temple, President Rajapaksa declared open a newly-constructed bridge at Gate No. 4.
The bridge was built by the Sri Lankan Government as a service to pilgrims who visit the site, because using the route along which the bridge is located provides the shortest path to the Maya Devi Temple as well as the Sri Lankaramaya Temple. The bridge was built at a cost of Rs. 34 million.
At the Sri Lankaramaya Temple, President Rajapaksa worshipped the Sacred Bo Tree and spent some time speaking with the priests and Sri Lankans who had come to welcome the President.
The Temple, also built by the Sri Lankan Government was inaugurated by the President during his visit to Lumbini in 2009.
In addition to providing a service to devotees visiting Lumbini from Sri Lanka and other countries, the temple has a specific purpose of working towards the propagation of Theravada Buddhism throughout the world.
During the visit to Lumbini, the President also opened a new administrative building at the Lumbini Buddhist University (LBU).
The Vice Chancellor of LBU Rev. Prof. Naresh Man Bajracharya welcomed the President and briefed him on the activities of the University.
“We would like to express grateful appreciation for the kind cooperation and look forward to the continuation and consolidation of the cooperation,” Prof. Bajracharya said, welcoming the President on behalf of the University.
The President’s final stop was to open the newly-renovated Dutugemunu Pilgrims Rest. Built in 1989, the facility had required refurbishment. The Sri Lankan Government stepped in to assist in the renovation, which was completed at a cost of Rs. 138 million.