Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is on a two-day personal visit to India during which he will offer prayers at Bodh Gaya and Tirupathi but will not engage with Indian leaders.
Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in India, Prasad Kariyawasam said that despite the private nature of the visit the Indian authorities have extended full security cooperation for the Sri Lankan President's visit.
Some groups in Chennai have been opposing the Rajapaksa visit and had urged the Indian government to cancel it.