Lankan President offers prayers at Tirumala temple

Tirumala, Feb 18: The new President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena, who was accompanied by his wife Jayanthi Pushpa Kumari, is believed to have offered his prayers at the Tirumala temple to Lord Venkateswara on Wednesday. The first couple of Sri Lanka is reported to have preferred to pass through the Vaikuntam queue complex like a common devotee in spite of being entitled for a direct entry through the main entrance, reports said. After extending a warm reception to the couple, the temple authorities took them into the sanctum sanctorum, where the visiting President and others attended a pre-dawn Suprabhata seva ritual, reports said. TTD's officials later presented him with Tirupati laddu and a memento of the presiding deity, reports said. Later, speaking to media persons on behalf of the President, Eastern province Governor of Sri Lanka Austin Fernando is reported to have said their official visit was successful.