Modi announces direct flights between Colombo and Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Air India will operate direct flights between Colombo and Varanasi starting August, while speaking at International Vesak Day celebrations in Sri Lanka on Friday. Addressing Indian-origin Tamils, Modi said, "My Tamil brothers and sisters will also be able to visit Varanasi, the land of Kashi Viswanath." Varanasi is Modi's Lok Sabha constituency.