PM Narendra Modi visits 'iconic' Temple of Sacred Tooth in Sri Lanka's Kandy

Kandy: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic here which houses the relic of the tooth of Lord Buddha.

"An architectural wonder housing shared religious heritage. PM @narendramodi arrives at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted.

Modi made his way to the historic temple accompanied by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena amid heavy rain and offered floral tribute.

Completed in 1595, the temple is located within the royal palace complex of the former kingdom of Kandy.

Kandy is a Unesco World Heritage site mainly on account of the temple.

Earlier in the day, Modi was the chief guest at the inauguration in Colombo of the UN-recognised 14th International Vesak Day meant to mark the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Lord Buddha.

Thereafter, he inaugurated a multi-specialty hospital built with Indian aid at Dickoya in the central Sri Lankan hill district of Nuwara Eliya.

He also addressed a public rally attended by Indian-origin Tamil tea plantation workers in Dickoya.

Modi will unveil a plaque commemorating the foundation laying of the Faculty of Kandyan Dance at the Sri Lankan International Buddhist Academy in Pallekelle, that will be constructed with India`s grant assistance.

Modi arrived in Colombo on Thursday on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena.

This is his second visit to the Indian Ocean island nation as Prime Minister after his visit in March 2015.