New Delhi. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumar Dissanayake is on a three-day visit to India. During this, today he met the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. During these bilateral talks, MoUs were also signed between India and Sri Lanka. This is Dissanayake’s first foreign trip after being elected President. Welcoming Dissanayake, PM Narendra Modi expressed happiness over him choosing India as his first foreign visit. At the same time, President Dissanayake expressed his commitment that he will not allow his soil to be used by anti-India forces. Perhaps China may feel irritated by this visit of Dissanayake.
VIDEO | India and Sri Lanka exchange MoUs after delegation-level talks between PM Modi (@narendramodi) and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (@anuradisanayake) in New Delhi.
(Full video is available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7, pic.twitter.com/Rpb1VvXXp0
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 16, 2024
Anura Kumar Dissanayake contested the presidential election on behalf of the National People’s Power (NPP), an alliance of leftist parties. NPP is considered close to China. Therefore, it was expected that Dissanayake would choose China for his first foreign trip but he surprised China by coming to India. Pictures of President Anura Kumar Dissanayake’s warm meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi are being shared widely on social media. Welcoming Sri Lankan President Dissanayake, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during bilateral talks, we are happy that you have chosen India for your first foreign visit as President. Today’s visit is creating new momentum and energy in our relations.
#WATCH Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “I welcome Sri Lankan President Dissanayake to India. We are glad that you have chosen India for your first foreign visit as President. Today’s visit is creating new momentum and energy in our relations.” pic.twitter.com/mZcRsuvfXQ
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) December 16, 2024
PM Modi also mentioned India’s contribution to the development of Sri Lanka. He said, India has so far provided Lines of Credit and grant assistance worth $5 billion to Sri Lanka. We have support in all 25 districts of Sri Lanka and the selection of our projects is always based on the development priorities of the partner countries. At the same time, Dissanayake also talked about taking the relations between India and Sri Lanka to a new dimension.
