Magelang, C Java (ANTARA News) - Filipino Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa separately visited the Borobudur temple complex here on Friday.

Binay, his child and wife arrived at 8.30 am local time and left at 9.30 am. Mahinda arrived at 10 am and left at 11 am.

At the temple, the Sri Lankan president prayed in a ceremony led by a Buddhist monk.

Head of the Borobudur Temple Tourism Park Pujo Suwarno said the two foreign leaders enjoyed their visit.

"They expressed their respect and appreciation to the Indonesian nation for having maintained and taken good care of the centuries-old monument," he said.

During the foreign leaders` visits, the temple complex was closed to the public.

"We apologize for the closure of the temple that might disappoint visitors," Pujo said.

Built by a king of the Saliendra dynasty between AD 750 and 842, the Borobudur temple was restored with UNESCO`s help in the 1970s.

The Filipino vice president and the Sri Lankan president attended the Fourth Bali Democracy Forum held in Nusa Dua, Bali, on December 8-9, 2011.(*)

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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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