President Gotabaya to lead 8-member team for historic Indian visit

Saturday, 23 November 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is expected to lead an eight-member delegation to India next week in his first-ever overseas visit since assuming office.

Among members of the Sri Lankan delegation are Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha, and former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, who was yesterday granted approval for travel temporarily by the Court.

President Gotabaya will visit New Delhi from 29 November to 1 December, following an invitation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Earlier this week, Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Colombo, carrying a congratulatory message from Modi as well as an invitation to visit India. India’s Foreign Minister became the first foreign dignitary to call on Rajapaksa, following the latter’s election as the President.

“A warm meeting with Sri Lanka President @GotabayaR. Conveyed PM @narendramodi’s message of a partnership for shared peace, progress, prosperity & security. Confident that under his leadership, #IndiaSriLanka relations would reach greater heights,” Jaishankar tweeted via his official twitter account. “President @GotabayaR has accepted PM @narendramodi’s invitation to visit India on 29th November,” he added.

It was learnt that President Gotabaya is likely to visit China next.