Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa deplored the attack on a prominent Buddhist Temple in India on Sunday, his office said in a statement.

Rajapaksa said that following the bomb explosions at the MahaBodhi Temple in India's Bihar state human beings of all faiths must hold hands together to root out any acts against religions and places of worship and veneration.

"Sri Lanka has undergone similar tragedies when the most venerated and sacred Temple of the Tooth and Sri Maha Bodhi were mercilessly attacked by terrorists, some years ago. Therefore, people and the Government of Sri Lanka will extend their fullest support to the people and the Government of India in this hour of great tragedy. We also wish speedy recovery to those who were injured due to these blasts and offer prayers for quick restoration of normalcy of this most venerated shrine in order that Buddhists and other pilgrims are able to perform their religious observances as in the past," the president said.

Several people were injured in the multiple-bomb explosions at the Buddhist temple which is frequented by pilgrims from around the world including Sri Lanka.

Rajapaksa, who himself has visited the Temple, said that acts of sabotage, destruction and vandalism against any religious place of worship must be totally condemned.

Meanwhile the government advised Sri Lankan pilgrims to avoid visiting the temple until investigations into the blast conclude.

India's Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami had said that the blasts were a terror attack.