ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> <br />STORY: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited a historic Buddhist temple on Monday, ending his two-day trip to Sri Lanka.<br/> <br />Abe on Sunday became the first Japanese prime minister to visit Sri Lanka in 24 years, on the second leg of a South Asian tour that sought to assert Tokyo's interest in a region where it has ceded influence to China.<br/> <br />Abe was greeted by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Colombo's international airport, where a new passenger terminal will be built with the help of a $330 million Japanese development loan.<br/> <br />Abe visited the Kelaniya temple on his way to the airport on Monday, and was welcomed by the chief monk and the chief custodian.<br/> <br />After offering lotus flowers to a statue of Buddha, he was blessed by Buddhist monks. The Japanese leader then greeted dozens of children carrying Japanese flags who lined up to meet him.<br/> <br />The temple visit coincides with Full Moon Day in Sri Lanka, a religious
