Vesak is a 'most important day' and Buddhism the answer to growing violence in the world, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

He was addressing the 14th United Nations Vesak Week celebrations at the BMICH in Colombo.

“Vesak is most sacred of days. A day for humanity to revere the birth, the enlightenment and the Parinibbana of Lord Buddha,” the Indian Premier said.

He said the region is blessed to have given to the world the invaluable gift of Buddha and announced direct flights between Varanasi, India and Colombo from August ‘ease travel to the land of Buddha for my brothers and sisters from Sri Lanka’.

‘My Tamil brothers and sisters will also be able to visit Varanasi, the land of Kashi Viswanath,’ he added.

The Indian Prime Minister said he was of the view that Buddhism's message of peace ‘is the answer to growing arc of violence all over the world.’

Speaking on deepening relations between India and Sri Lanka, the Indian Premier was of the view that a free flow of investment would be for the mutual benefit of both countries.

'We will continue to invest in driving positive change and economic growth to deepen our development cooperation. Our strength lies in sharing our knowledge, capacity and prosperity. In trade and investment, we are already significant partners. We believe that free flow of trade, investments, technology, and ideas across our borders will be to our mutual benefit, the Indian Premier said. 

'India’s rapid growth can bring dividends for the entire region, especially in Sri Lanka. In infrastructure and connectivity, transport and energy, we are poised to scale up our cooperation. Our development partnership stretches across nearly every sector of human activity such as agriculture, education, health, resettlement, transport, power, culture, water, shelter, sports, and human resources.'

An aid package of $ 2.6 billion in 10 areas including transportation energy will be given, he also said.

He had also said that 1990 ambulance service funded by India would be extended to all of the provinces in Sri Lanka.