Sri Lanka's Sports Minister and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Namal Rajapaksa accompanied by a high-level delegation from Sri Lanka were given a warm welcome as they deboarded the first flight which touched down at Kushinagar International Airport on the occasion of its inauguration on Wednesday.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla received the Sri Lankan delegation at the airport.

The Sri Lankan delegation visited Kushinagar at the invitation extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a virtual bilateral summit with Sri Lanka in September 2020.

The Sri Lankan delegation, led by Rajapaksa, comprised around 100 senior Buddhist monks, four state ministers and other senior officials who arrived from Colombo on the auspicious Vap Poya Day.

The senior monks belonging to different sects and prominent temples represent more than 22 districts of Sri Lanka. The senior-most monk in the delegation is Most Venerable Wedaruwe Upali Anu Nayaka Thero.

Sri Lankan Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa appreciated the prime minister’s gesture of inviting Srilankan Airlines to be the first international carrier at Kushinagar airport.

"It (Kushinagar International Airport) is a great gesture of PM Modi and especially inviting Srilankan Airlines to be the first international carrier to land at Kushinagar International Airport," Rajapaksa, said.

Besides, representatives from all major countries practicing Buddhism were present at the inauguration function of Kushinagar airport, including those from Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bhutan, Thailand, and Nepal.