New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated Uttar Pradesh's longest runway international airport in Kushinagar. Around 100 Buddhist monks along with Sri Lankan Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa and his delegation also arrived at Kushinagar airport to attend the opening ceremony. India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla welcomed the Sri Lankan Sports Minister at Kushinagar airport, after which PM Modi met the Sri Lankan Sports Minister.

During the meeting, Namal Rajapaksa gifted PM Modi the Bhagavad Gita of the Sinhalese edition. The Bhagavad Gita also contains the message of Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa. Speaking at an event to mark Abhidhamma Day, Namal Rajapaksa thanked PM Modi for giving a USD 15 million grant to Sri Lanka to strengthen Buddhist ties between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Namal Rajapaksa said, 'The first flight to land at Kushinagar International Airport is a great honour for me and my delegation. Buddhism is the biggest gift India has given to Sri Lanka. Relations between our countries have been strengthening ever since Buddhism reached Sri Lanka.' He further said that Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has started translating the Bhagavad Gita into all languages spoken in Sri Lanka.

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