The two leaders greeted each other warmly and engaged in conversation during the meeting.
Earlier, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan was also present there.
In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Sri Lankan President @anuradisanayake paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat this morning. Bapu’s timeless values of truth and non-violence inspire humanity. All over the world.”
Anura Kumara Dissanayake was formally welcomed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday morning. President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
President Dissanayake inspected the Samman Garat by the Joint Defense Services. On this occasion, President Draupadi Murmu and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake introduced each other to their ministers, diplomats and officials. The Sri Lankan President shared a video on X showing him being formally welcomed at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The President of Sri Lanka is on a state visit to India from December 15 to December 17. This is Dissanayake’s first bilateral visit to India since taking office in September. Earlier on Sunday, the Sri Lankan President was received in Delhi by Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan.
After reaching Delhi, President Dissanayake also met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar.
In a post on X, Dissanayake said, “During my official visit to India, I had the privilege of engaging in fruitful discussions with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Shri Ajit Doval. Our discussions focused on strengthening India-Sri Lanka economic cooperation. It reaffirms the commitment to deepen the partnership between our two nations in areas such as tourism and energy as keys to doing so, increasing investment opportunities, promoting regional security and moving forward.
Jaishankar, in his meeting with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday, highlighted the key role of the island nation in India’s Neighbor First Policy and Sea Outlook. He expressed confidence that President Dissanayake’s talks with Prime Minister Modi today will further strengthen the cooperation between New Delhi and Colombo.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Delighted to meet President @anuradisanayake at the start of his first visit to India. Sri Lanka is key to both India’s Neighbor First Policy and SAGAR Outlook. I am confident that the talks with PM @narendramodi will bring more confidence and deeper will lead to cooperation.”
In a press briefing on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Sri Lankan President will attend a business event in Delhi and visit Bodh Gaya during his visit to India.
He said, ‘President Dissanayake’s visit to India will further strengthen the multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
In a press release, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “Sri Lanka is India’s closest maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and occupies a central place in the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Development for All. In the region) and India’s” Neighbor First’ policy.