February 11, 2020
PM Rajapaksa’s visit follows the successful state visit of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in November 2019
In line with the "Neighborhood First" policy and "Sagar" doctrine, India attaches special priority to ties with Sri Lanka
PM Modi welcomed the Sri Lankan government's resolve to work with India for regional security and development
Following his official engagements in Delhi, PM Rajapaksa traveled to Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, and Tirupati
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa paid a state visit to India over February 8-11. On his trip, which followed an invitation from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, PM Rajapaksa was accompanied by a high-level delegation. The trip marked his first India visit since becoming the Prime Minister in November 2019. During his stay, PM Rajapaksa held delegation-level talks with PM Modi and called on the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. PM Rajapaksa’s visit closely follows the successful state visit of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in November 2019.
Welcoming PM Rajapaksa, the President said that India’s growth was linked to peace and prosperity in its neighbourhood. Herein, a prosperous Sri Lanka is in the best interest of India, and the Government has been keen to strengthen the economic pillar of India-Sri Lanka’s bilateral relations. There remains a lot to be achieved for the nations’ mutual growth and prosperity. Beyond economic relations, the two nations have also been partnering in defence and security. On the occasion, PM Modi said that in line with the “Neighborhood First” policy and “Sagar” doctrine, India attaches special priority to ties with Sri Lanka.
PM Modi welcomed the Sri Lankan government’s resolve to work with India for regional security and development. Discussions between the two Prime Ministers touched upon the critical topics of trade and investment relations, people-to-people exchanges, connectivity, terrorism, tourism, among others. India is one of the largest investors in Sri Lanka with cumulative investments of around US$ 1.24 billion in various forms of infrastructure development, including railway, power, and water. Bilateral agreements between the nations also cover cooperation in e-Governance, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, etc.
After his official engagements in Delhi, PM Rajapaksa traveled to Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, and Tirupati. The trip was the latest in a series of high-level visits between the two countries.