Friday, December 30 2005 16:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kochi: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse arrived here today (Dec 30, 2005) by a special Indian Airlines flight from Delhi, amid tight security.

The Lankan Dignitary, accompanied by his wife, immediately left by a helicopter for the temple town of Guruvayur in Kerala's Thrissur district to offer worship at the famous Sri Krishna Temple.

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Nirupama Rao, and an eight-member Sri Lankan delegation, accompanied the President to Guruvayur.

Security had been tightened in and around the Cochin International Airport at nearby Nedumbassery with even media personnel not being allowed inside to cover the dignitary's visit.

After worshipping at Guruvayur, the President will be returning to Kochi later in the evening to board a flight to Colombo.