Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe Lands In India To Deepen Ties; Meets PM Modi

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in Delhi today (21 July) for a two-day official visit to India.

Welcoming him at the airport was Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, alongside an enthusiastic display of Garba performed by artists to extend a warm reception to the visiting dignitary.

President Wickremesinghe's visit to India comes in response to an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and marks the former's first visit to the country since assuming office.

The Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, took to Twitter to express the significance of President Wickremesinghe's visit in strengthening the multi-prolonged partnership between India and Sri Lanka.

Bagchi tweeted, "Warm welcome to President of Sri Lanka on his maiden visit to India since assumption of the Office of President.. The visit will further boost the multi-pronged India-Srilanka partnership."

President Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral discussions with a focus on promoting mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors and strengthening connectivity in all the dimensions between the two countries, added Bagchi.

During his stay, President Wickremesinghe is scheduled to meet Indian President Droupadi Murmu, and hold meetings with other Indian dignitaries, as mentioned in the press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Emphasizing the importance of Sri Lanka as a key partner in India's neighbourhood-first policy and Vision SAGAR, the MEA noted that the visit will further reinforce the longstanding friendship between the two countries and explore opportunities for enhanced connectivity and mutually beneficial cooperation across various sectors.

In a weekly briefing, Arindam Bagchi highlighted the significance of Sri Lanka's visit, emphasising the country's importance as a neighboring nation with multi-faceted relations.

The official visit is expected to further enhance the existing partnership and cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, setting the stage for strengthened ties and shared opportunities in the future.