Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday, marking the second day of his state visit to India.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed President Dissanayake at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Sri Lankan leader inspected a Guard of Honour presented by the combined defence services during the reception.
As part of the formalities, President Murmu and President Dissanayake introduced their respective ministers, diplomats, and senior officials to each other.
President Dissanayake is on a three-day state visit to India from December 15 to 17, his first bilateral trip to New Delhi since assuming office in September.
On Sunday, the Sri Lankan President was received at the Delhi airport by Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, L. Murugan. Following his arrival, President Dissanayake held discussions with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
In a post on X, the Sri Lankan leader said, “During my official visit to India, I had the privilege of engaging in productive discussions with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Shri 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. These engagements reaffirm the commitment to deepening the partnership between our two nations.”
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during his meeting with President Dissanayake, emphasized Sri Lanka’s significant role in India’s Neighbourhood First policy and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) outlook.
Jaishankar expressed confidence that President Dissanayake’s talks with Prime Minister Modi on Monday will lead to enhanced trust and deeper cooperation between India and Sri Lanka in areas such as economic ties, regional security, and mutual development initiatives.
(Inputs from ANI)
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