Indian well-wishers of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe paid for the sandalwood he offered to the famous Lord Krishna temple in Guruvayur, Kerala, Prime Minister's Office sources told Asian Mirror.

Accordingly, no public money was used in buying the sandalwood that Wickremesinghe offered the temple on his visit on Saturday.

Wickramasinghe offered 'Thulabharam' (an offering where a devotee is weighed against offerings of banana, sugar, flowers etc) with sandalwood.

About 77 kilograms of sandalwood, at an estimated cost of Indian Rs. 8.45 lakh (Rs. 845,000), was offered by the dignitary as an offering to the temple.

Wickremesinghe left Sri Lanka early Saturday morning along with his wife Maitree and Minister of Resettlement, Reconstruction and Hindu Religious Affairs DM Swaminathan. He arrived at the temple at around 11.15am amidst heavy security.

Wickramasinghe told media that his visit to the temple was for thanksgiving. “I had promised to offer worship in the temple if the results in the Sri Lankan elections were favourable.”

The Prime Minister returned to the island Saturday evening.