Rajapaksa enjoys CWG closing ceremony

Making his first visit to India after crushing the Tamil Tigers, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Thursday enjoyed every moment of the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony where he was the guest of honour.

Making his first visit to India after crushing the Tamil Tigers, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Thursday enjoyed every moment of the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony where he was the guest of honour.

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Seated with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Rajapaksa repeatedly clapped and occasionally waved his hands as artists and dancers displayed their many skills at the packed Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

The president particularly cheered the Indian military bands as they belted out lilting martial music.

Rajapaksa's arrival was preceded by stray protests in Tamil Nadu, where Tamil activists denounced India's decision to make him the guest of honour in view of the large number of Tamil civilian deaths in Sri Lanka.

The president will hold talks with Manmohan Singh on a variety of issues, have lunch with him and fly back to Colombo Friday.