Lankan President Wickremesinghe’s big visit begins, meeting with Doval precedes crucial talks with PM Modi

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has begun his big visit to India, holding talks with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Friday morning in New Delhi, just ahead of his crucial meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House.

Wickremesinghe arrived in the Indian capital on Thursday on what is his first visit to the country since assuming the current responsibilities. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on him Thursday evening.

“Honoured to call on President Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka during his India visit. Confident that his meeting with PM Narendra Modi tomorrow will further strengthen our neighbourly bonds and take forward India’s Neighbourhood First and SAGAR policies,” tweeted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who met the Lankan President after his arrival in New Delhi on Thursday evening.

Sri Lanka is an important partner in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ and PM Modi’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).

Wickremesinghe’s visit is expected to reinforce the longstanding friendship between the two countries and explore avenues for enhanced connectivity and mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors.

Closer economic cooperation, growth of economies, common security issues, areas of development cooperation, new projects, Indian investments will be discussed extensively as the Lankan President meets PM Modi today.

“As you know, we’ve also been helping them or have helped them with their economic problems that have happened in the recent past. And I think this will be a good base to take forward our conversation,” Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, told media on Thursday.