Sri Lankan president Disanayaka in India on 3-day visit, meets EAM Jaishankar | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake arrived in India on Sunday for a three-day visit, marking his first international trip since assuming office in September.
He will engage in detailed discussions with PM Narendra Modi, concentrating on key areas like trade, investment, energy, and maritime security.
The Indian side is also expected to talk to the Sri Lankan leader in relation to expectations for Colombo to address the aspirations of the Tamil community in the island nation.
Disanayaka was received at the Delhi airport by Union minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan.
In a post on ‘X’, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Disanayaka’s visit will be an opportunity to further deepen India-Sri Lankan ties and add momentum to the people-centric partnership.
“Warm and special welcome!” he said along with photos of the Union minister receiving Disanayaka.

External affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar also met the Sri Lankan president in the capital.

During his visit, Dissanayaka is scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu, visit Bodh Gaya, and attend a business event in Delhi aimed at promoting investment and strengthening commercial ties between the two Asian nations.
Sri Lanka, as India’s closest maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean region, plays a pivotal role in PM Modi’s ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative and India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, the MEA stated on Friday.
“The visit of President Disanayaka to India is expected to further strengthen the multi-faceted and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries,” it stated.
Amid concerns over China’s efforts to expand its military presence in the Indian Ocean, India has been strengthening its defense and strategic ties with Sri Lanka.
People familiar with the issue also revealed that during his visit, the Sri Lankan leader is also expected to discuss matters relating to maritime security cooperation.
The docking of the Chinese missile and satellite tracking vessel ‘Yuan Wang’ at Hambantota port in August 2022 sparked a diplomatic dispute between India and Sri Lanka. Additionally, another Chinese warship docked at the Colombo port in August of the previous year.
India has been supporting the capacity-building efforts of Sri Lanka’s defense forces, including supplying indigenously built offshore patrol vessels.