Date:12/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/12/stories/2008071253300400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Lankan President visits Tirumala

Staff Reporter

PTI Photo

Warm reception: TTD Executive Officer K V Ramachary welcomes Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Tirumala on Friday. -

TIRUMALA: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at the hill temple here on Friday along with a ten-member delegation.

On his arrival at the posh Padmavati guest house, the President, who is on a two-day visit to the temple town, was accorded a warm reception by the TTD and district officials.

Prominent among those who received him included TTD Executive Officer K.V. Ramanachary, Tirumala-based Special Officer A.V. Dharma Reddy and SP Lakshmi Reddy.

Mr. Rajapaksa who offered prayers in the evening will visit the temple again in the wee hours of Saturday before leaving later in the morning. The district police have made elaborate security arrangements for the President’s visit. Bomb disposal and sniffer dog squads were pressed into service.

Armed police personnel were deployed all along the ghat road leading to Tirumala.