A Parliamentary delegation from Sri Lanka, led by Health and Mass Media Minister and President of the Sri Lanka–India Parliamentary Friendship Association, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, visited India from August 26 to 30 at the invitation of the High Commission of India in Colombo.
The delegation comprised Plantation and Community Infrastructure Deputy Minister Sundaralingam Pradeep, MPs Rauff Hakeem, Ravi Karunanayake, G.G. Ponnambalam, Sivagnanam Shritharan, J.C. Alawathuwala, Dr. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardhana, Thanura Dissanayake, Ruwanthilaka Jayakody, Sunil Biyanwila, Riyas Farook, Hiruni Wijesinghe, Ambika Samivel, Dewananda Suraweera, Chandima Hettiaratchi, Champika Hettiarachchi, Sudath Balagalla, Gayan Janaka and Hansa Abeyrathne, along with senior Parliamentary officials.
The programme included engagements with the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, visits to the Chambers and Parliament Library, and discussions on areas such as the role of media in India, the Parliamentary committee system, higher education, public health, and Parliamentary privileges and ethics. The delegation also visited the Centre for Excellence in Health and held discussions with officials of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
A key highlight was a meeting with Speaker of the Lok Sabha Om Birla, who stressed that such exchanges would further strengthen bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka, particularly in the fields of Parliamentary cooperation, health, media, and education.
Minister Jayatissa expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by the Parliament of India and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to enhancing Parliamentary diplomacy and fostering stronger people-to-people ties between the two nations.
