Mihintale group corr.

PAKISTANI Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat and his wife visited Anuradhapura and paid homage to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi on Thursday afternoon.

They later called on Atamasthanadhipathi Ven. Pallegama Siriniwasa, Chief Sanghanayake Thera at the Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya and received his blessings.

The Pakistani Air Chief who presented a Buddha statue to the Atamasthanadhipathi as a memento said he considered the opportunity they received to pay homage to the Sacred Bodhi as a great privilege in life.

He said Sri Lanka and Pakistan had maintained mutual ties from ancient times.

Atamasthanadhipathi Ven. Pallegama Siriniwasa Thera said Air Chief Marshal Saadat's visit had helped to further enhance ties between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force base in Anuradhapura P. B. Ratnayake and several other Air Force officers accompanied Saadat during their Anuradhapura tour.