Newly-elected Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who arrived in the national capital on Thursday on a three-day visit, will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.
Both leaders will discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
President Rajapaksa will later call on President Ram Nath Kovind.
Before leaving for New Delhi, President Rajapaksa in a tweet said that he was looking forward to strengthening bilateral relations with India.
“Leaving for my first state visit to India and looking forward to strengthening bilateral relations with Shri @narendramodi and Govt of India,” Rajapaksa tweeted.
Following President Rajapaksa’s arrival in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that the President Rajapaksa’s visit at the Prime Minister Modi invitation, demonstrated the strength and dynamism of India-Sri Lanka relations.
“A civilisational relationship nurtured through millennia President @GotabayaR on his first overseas visit since assuming office arrives in India on a State visit at PM @narendramodi’s invitation, demonstrating the strength & dynamism of relations. #NeighbourhoodFirst,” Kumar tweeted.
Rajapaksa had defeated his nearest rival Sajith Premadasa by more than 13 lakh votes in the recently-concluded presidential elections in Sri Lanka.
