Varanasi: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Sunday, arrived in Varanasi and offered prayers at the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple.

Rajapaksa was given a warm welcome on his arrival at the Lal Bahadur Shastri airport by senior officials.

He then drove straight to the Kashi Vishwanath temple where he participated in the 'puja' in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

The 'puja' was conducted by a team of 'pundits' who offered 'prasad' to the visiting dignitary after the 'aarti'.

The Sri Lanka Prime Minister then visited the Kaal Bhairav temple to offer prayers.

Rajapaksa who is on a four-day visit to India is also set to visit Sarnath, 10 kilometers away from Varanasi, to pay tributes at the Dhamek Stupa where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon to five disciples after attaining enlightenment.