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Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa being received at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi by India’s Human Resource Development, Communications and Electronics and Information Technology State Minister Dhotre Sanjay Shamrao
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday arrived in India for his five-day State visit on the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is expected to include discussions on how the two countries will roll out a $ 400 million line of credit.
Rajapaksa was received at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi by India’s Human Resource Development, Communications and Electronics and Information Technology State Minister Dhotre Sanjay Shamrao.
The official visit is the first undertaken by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa following his appointment as Prime Minister. During the visit Prime Minister Rajapaksa will call on Indian President Ramnath Kovinth on Sunday and hold high-level bilateral discussions with his Indian counterpart Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.
Rajapaksa will also meet with Foreign Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and senior officials of the Indian Government.
The Prime Minister is expected to hold discussions on several sectors including politics, trade, development, defence, culture and tourism, the Prime Minister’s Media Division said.
Rajapaksa’s visit is expected to further the existing relations between Sri Lanka and India.
The possibility of obtaining Indian assistance to enhance training opportunities in the fields of vocational training and public services will also be discussed during the visit, it said.
“The two delegations are scheduled to have discussions on strengthening sub-regional maritime cooperation and key areas under the defence and maritime cooperation. That includes the tripartite maritime security pact signed by Sri Lanka, India and Maldives to secure sea routes in the Indian Ocean,” it added.
The two parties will also focus on enhancing people-to-people contacts by expanding aviation facilities to the sacred Buddhist sites in India including the ‘Sanchi Buddhist Complex’ in the state of Madya Pradesh.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to visit several historic places of worship including Waranasi, Saranath, Bodhgaya and Thirupati during the visit.
The delegation to India headed by the Prime Minister includes Community Empowerment and Estate Infrastructure Development Minister Arumugam Thondaman, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Douglas Devananda, MP Prasanna Ranaweera, Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, Secretary to the Prime Minister Gamini Senarath, Secretary to the Treasury and Ministry of Finance S.R. Attygalle, Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Ariyasinghe and Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister Professor G.L. Peiris.
