<span style="color: #222222;">Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay attended Shivratri pooja at Thiruketheeswaram Temple in Sri Lanka today where the Government of India had carried out a restoration project at the temple.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In a tweet, the High Commission of India in Colombo said, the High Commissioner commenced his visit to Northern Province by seeking divine blessings at the sacred Thiruketheeswaram Temple. It added, he attended Shivratri Pooja and prayed for the well-being of the people of Sri Lanka and India. The Government of India had carried out a restoration project at the Temple at SLR 326 million, informed the High Commission.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">India has been increasingly undertaking projects across Asia to restore places of cultural importance as an important tool of Soft Power in diplomatic relations.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Under the restoration initiative, India is developing the cultural sites of Ta Prohm Temple, Angkor, Cambodia; Cham Monuments, Vietnam; Thiruketheeswaram Temple, Mannar, Sri Lanka; Wat Phou Temple Complex, Laos; and Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Funds are released through India's External Affairs Ministry as part of its diplomatic outreach to these nations.</span><br />''