Sri Lankan Prez offers worship at hill shrine

Tirupati, Aug 21 (PTI) Sri Lankan President MaithripalaSirisena today offered worship at the Lord Venkateswara shrinenear here. He was accompanied by his wife Jayanthi Pushpa Kumari andson Daham Sirisena. Chadalavada Krishnamurthy, Chairman, Tirumala TirupatiDevasthanams (TTD), which manages the temple, said Sirisenaarrived here late last night. After an overnight halt on the hills, the Sri LankanPresident with his family participated in the sacred’Suprabhatha’ recitation ritual conducted in the shrine in thewee hours, he said. Before he left, Sirisena was presented with a sacred silkcloth of the presiding deity and holy water in a tiny bottleand ‘Laddu prasadam.’ It was Sirisena’s second visit to the shrine afterFebruary 18 last year, he added. PTI COR BNRCJ