Sri Lanka President made to wait as driver fails to turn up in time

Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena

INDIA: Senior officials of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Sunday faced embarrassment as the visiting Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena was forced to wait in his car as the driver did not turn up in time. The incident exposed the lack of coordination between the TTD officials and the Tirupati urban district police. The local police have ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Soon after the darshan of the presiding deity, Lord Sri Venkateswara, and temple rituals in Tirumala, Sirisena was escorted by the TTD officials to his car. The Sri Lanka President got into the vehicle and much to the embarrassment of senior officials including the police, the car driver was not around.

Temple officials searched for the driver and after a few minutes they found him inside the temple. The driver reportedly went for the darshan and failed to return in time, forcing the VVIP to wait in the car. The President’s convoy came from Karnataka. The driver also hailed from the neighbouring state.

The President visited the temple early on Sunday. He was accompanied by his wife Jayanthi Pushpa Kumari and son Daham Sirisena. Earlier, on his arrival, Sirisena was welcomed by TTD chairman Ch Krishnamurthy, TTD executive officer D Sambasiva Rao and Tirupati joint executive officer Pola Bhaskar.

According to an official statement, after the darshan of Lord, the President was given holy water – Teertham. He was extended `Satari’ honours. He was also presented with `prasadams’ and a laminated photo of the Lord. The President and his family members participated in the Suprabhatham Seva.

(Times of India)