Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited India on his first overseas trip and met PM Modi today. The meeting’s focus was focused on strengthening ties between the two countries.
India and Sri Lanka exchanged Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in Delhi on Monday. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the Sri Lankan leader’s decision to make India’s first foreign visit to India and added his visit would foster the relations between the two nations. ” I welcome President Dissanayake to India. We are delighted that as the President, you chose India for your first State Visit. With today’s Yatra, new speed and energy are being generated in our relations. For our partnership, we have adopted a futuristic vision. In our economic cooperation, we have emphasized investment-led growth and connectivity,” PM Modi said in a joint presser.
Prime Minister Modi also discussed the issue of Indian fishermen being arrested by Sri Lankan authorities after accidentally entering the island nation’s waters. Modi stated that Sri Lankan President Dissanayake assured him of fulfilling the aspirations of Tamilians and committed to fully implementing Sri Lanka’s Constitution and conducting Provincial Council Elections.
The two leaders also talked about addressing fishermen’s livelihood issues with a humanitarian approach. Modi expressed hope that the Sri Lankan government would follow through on its commitments, including reconciliation and construction efforts
Leaders from the island nation usually choose to visit the regional giant India first, as it contends with China for dominance in the Indian Ocean. Leftist Dissanayake, who came to power in September on a pledge to fight corruption and mission to come India is to held “productive discussions” with India’s finance foreign ministers, as well as national security adviser Ajit Doval.
“Our conversations focused on strengthening Indo-Sri Lanka economic cooperation, enhancing investment opportunities, fostering regional security, and advancing key sectors such as tourism and energy,” Dissanayake said.
