Modi hopes to increase ties with SL

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India and Sri Lanka enjoyed deep and enduring links of kinship, history and culture and India attached the highest importance to its relations with Sri Lanka.

Prime Minister Modi made this comment on the relationship between the two countries when former President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunga, called on him today in New Delhi.

Kumaratunga is visiting India to attend the ongoing international conference “Samvad- Global Hindu-Buddhist Initiative on conflict avoidance and environment consciousness”.

Prime Minister Modi welcomed the successful holding of the parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka in a peaceful and participative manner as reflective of the strength of democracy in the country.

He deeply appreciated the leadership role played by Kumaranatunga in the country and in strengthening relations between India and Sri Lanka.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that former Sri Lankan President would continue to play an important role in Sri Lanka to move towards “genuine reconciliation and social harmony where the aspirations of all the communities would be met within the framework of united Sri Lanka”.

Prime Minister Modi said he looked forward to continue to work closely with the President and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to take the relationship between the two nations to new heights. (Colombopage)