Pics: Spoorthi Ullal/Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Kundapur (ANK/HB)

Mangaluru/Kundapur, Nov 21: Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in Mangaluru on Tuesday, November 21. He then proceeded to Shree Kollur Mookambika Temple in Kundapur.

Wickremesinghe arrived by helicopter from Bengaluru and then proceeded to Areshiroor near Kollur. He is expected to stay at Mookambika temple guest house. He was accorded a traditional welcome at the entrance of the temple.

The Prime Minister's wife Maithree Wickremesinghe and deputy high commissioner of Sri Lanka V Krishnamoorthy accompanied Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Wickremesinghe was supposed to visit Kollur temple in late August this year, but the plan was cancelled at the last minute owing to bad weather.

The Sri Lankan Prime Minister performed the Shata Chandika Yaga as part of the three-day ritual in Kollur temple. On the first day Maha Ganapathi Yaga was held, followed by Gayatri Homa on the second day.

Wickremesinghe offered the special puja in Kollur temple as per the advice of an astrologer. He had contacted Kollur temple chief priest Narasimha Adiga four months ago, but was able to offer the puja only now.

Harish Kumar Shetty, president of the temple management committee, Shivanand Kapashi, CEO and staff of Kollur temple were present.

Due to security arrangements, the devotees were barred from entering the temple between 11 am and 1 pm.

Deputy commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis and SP Sanjeev Patil looked after the arrangements and the security.