Newly-Elected Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajpaksa Accepts PM Modi’s Invitation To Visit India On 29 November

In a big shot in the arm for the Indo-Sri Lankan ties, the newly sworn-in Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is set to visit India on 29 November, which is likely to be his first foreign visit after coming to power, reports Economic Times.

The development comes as Union Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar flew down to Sri Lanka on an unannounced two-day visit to extend an invitation from Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi to the Sri Lankan President. Jaishankar was the first foreign dignitary to call on President Rajapaksa after his election victory.

On his proactive visit post the election outcomes, Jaishankar is said to have also extended to President Rajapaksa a personal letter of congratulations from PM Modi. It should be noted that PM Modi had also personally called President Rajapaksa to congratulate him on the victory in the just culminated elections.

Meanwhile, it should be noted that the new President of Sri Lanka is a former colonel of the nation's army who fought against the militant outfit LTTE in the battlefield. Also, he is the younger brother of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.