Andhra Pradesh

Sri Lankan President to visit State soon

NELLORE. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will soon visit the State to handover Buddhist Stupa (monument), a big dumbbell and other related ritual items.

“The State government has already received the information with regard to the Sri Lankan President’s proposed visit. But the date of his arrival has not yet been finalised,” Information and Public Relations Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy told reporters on Tuesday.

With the State government taking steps to develop an air strip in 1,500 to 2,000 acres, a tourist resort, golf course and an IT park on the right side of Nagarjuna Sagar that comes under Guntur district, the biggest Budharama temple on the left side of the Nagarjuna Sagar that comes under Nalgonda district will soon become one of the most sought after tourist destinations.In this backdrop, the Sri Lankan government has decided to handover certain ritual related items to the State government for being placed at Budharama,” the Minister said. Meanwhile, the State government will soon establish a Shilparamam and Convention centre at Visakhapatnam besides setting up mini auditoriums at Kadapa and Nellore in the first phase and four others in different district headquarters in the subsequent phase. All irrigation projects would be converted into tourism hubs by being connected to the nearest tourist spots.

Mr. Ramnarayana Reddy said that the Centre had already sanctioned funds for five projects such as development of infrastructure facilities at Horsley Hills in Chittoor district, Kolleru lake under eco-tourism in Krishna and West Godavari districts, Anantharamam village of Mahabubabad of Warangal district, circuit development on Godavari and Krishna rivers and eco-tourism at Pulicat Lake in Nellore district. “Five others are in the pipeline and the Centre will soon sanction funds for them too,” he said.

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