President Mahinda Rajapaksa left for India a short while ago at the invitation of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

During his stay in India, Rajapaksa will lay the foundation stone for Sanchi International Buddhist University.

Invitations had been sent to the Heads of States and dignitaries of Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, Mangolia, Cambodia, and Nepal for the foundation stone laying ceremony.

Bhutan Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigme Thinley will also participate in the ceremony.

President Rajapaksa is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.