Sri Lankan president prays at Bodh Gaya

Patna: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today visited Bihar's Bodh Gaya and prayed at the Mahabodhi temple amid tight security, police said.

Gaya District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agrawal said Sirisena, who is here on a day-long visit, offered special prayers and circumambulated the Mahabodhi tree under which Lord Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.

The 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple is considered a life time destination for millions of Buddhists across the World.

A police official said Sirisena also visited the Mahabodhi Society Centre and other Buddhist temples in Bodh Gaya, about 110 km from Patna.

Sirisena, who didn't speak to the media, will also visit Tirupati Tuesday evening.

Sirisena arrived in India on a four-day state visit - his maiden trip abroad since he won the presidential elections last month.