Indian Trade Minister receives Ranil on arrival in New Delhi

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe reached New Delhi last evening as part of undertaking a two-day official tour to India.

He was received by Indian Trade and Commerce Minister Nirmala Seetharama on arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.

Premier Wickremesinghe is in India on the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold talks with his Indian counterpart and call on Indian President Pranab Mukherjee. Indian Cabinet Ministers and political leaders are among those who are expected to call on the Prime Minister.  

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe (C), his wife Maithree (L) and India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pose for photographs after Wickremesinghe arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India, 14 September. Wickremesinghe is on a three-day official visit to India – Reuters

Bilateral instruments on cooperation in the health sector, Indian grant assistance for the implementation of small development projects and frequency coordination for the SAARC Satellite will be initialled during the visit.

The official visit is the first undertaken by Wickremesinghe following his election as Prime Minister consequent to the 17 August general election. Earlier, President Maithripala Sirisena undertook a State visit to India in February 2015 and Indian Prime Minister Naredndra Modi visited Sri Lanka in March 2015.