By: Staff Writer
June 20, Colombo (LNW): In what seems to be a preface to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s likely visit to Sri Lanka somewhere between July/August), External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar began his official visit to Sri Lanka today Thursday 20.
“Reaffirming India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, the visit underlines India’s continued commitment to Sri Lanka as its closest maritime neighbour and time tested friend.
The visit will add momentum to connectivity projects and other mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors,” said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the President’s House a short while ago.
Dr. S. Jaishankar is currently engaged in a one-on-one meeting with President Wickremesinghe, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said
Indian External Affairs Minister arrived in Sri Lanka this morning and he met the President this morning and discussed on wide-ranging issues of the partnership, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said.
This will be Jaishankar’s first bilateral visit after the formation of new Government under Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
“Reaffirming India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, the visit underlines India’s continued commitment to Sri Lanka as its closest maritime neighbour and time tested friend.”
The visit will add momentum to connectivity projects and other mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors, the PMD statement said
It is learnt that Jaishankar could also meet leaders across Sri Lanka’s political spectrum who are gearing up for national elections this year.
President Wickremesinghe was in Delhi on June 9 for PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony for his third term as PM.
Jaishankar had called on Wickremesinghe on June 10 and they discussed the resumption of development projects funded and initiated in Sri Lanka with Indian investments which have been paused.
Jaishankar had also spoken about India’s plans for developing an industrial zone in the eastern part of Trincomalee.
It may be recalled that in a vision statement released during President Wickremesinghe’s visit to Delhi in July 2023, there was discussion on developing Trincomalee as a national and regional hub of industry, energy and economic activity.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Sri Lanka in August this year, officials from the President’s office told journalists here.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi had invited the latter to visit Sri Lanka when the duo met on Sunday at Rasthrapati Bhavan.
Both the President and the Indian External Affairs Minister discussed the visit of the Indian Leader during which it was revealed that the visit is likely to take place in August this year.
