Chennai, Jan 10: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's relative Thirukumuran Nadesan was Tuesday attacked by MDMK activists with sticks and footwear when he was coming out of a house after a 'pooja' at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, an official said.

"It is an unfortunate incident. It should not have happened. However, he is on his way to Colombo," Vadivel Krishnamoorthy, deputy high commissioner of Sri Lanka in southern India, told.

Nadesan, a Sri Lankan national, is a regular visitor to the temples in Rameswaram, around 600 km from here.

This time, the MDMK activists came to know about his visit and surrounded the house where he was participating in a 'pooja'. He was attacked when he came out of the house with sticks and footwear. However, the people of the house rescued him.

The police at the spot escorted him and he immediately left for Colombo after going to his hotel.