Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr. S. Murugan and other diplomatic officials welcomed Mr. Dissanayake upon his arrival in India on Sunday (December 15, 2024).
| Photo Credit: X/@MEAIndia

Sri Lanka President President Anura Kumara Dissanayake arrived in New Delhi on Sunday (December 15, 2024) for a three-day visit to boost bilateral ties and cooperation with India.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr. S. Murugan and other diplomatic officials welcomed Mr. Dissanayake upon his arrival in India.

In his first overseas visit after assuming office, Mr. Dissanayake will have discussion bilateral matter with Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Shri Ajit Doval later tonight (December 15, 2024).

His visit comes after Mr. Jaishankar’s invitation to visit New Delhi after he visited Colombo less than a fortnight after Mr. Dissanayake’s victory.

Mr. Jaishankar was the first foreign dignitary to visit Sri Lanka since the National People’s Power (NPP) government led by Mr. Dissanayake came to power on September 23, 2024.

Mr. Dissanayake’s visit was on hold until the completion of the parliamentary election in November when his NPP recorded a historic win, gaining absolute control of the 225-member Parliament.

(With PTI inputs)

Colombo:

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will undertake a three-day visit to India from Sunday, his first overseas visit after assuming office.

During his visit, Dissanayake will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu.

He will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and Deputy Minister of Finance Anil Jayantha Fernando.

Dissanayaka’s visit to India is expected to further bolster the multi-faceted and mutually beneficial bilateral ties, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in New Delhi on Friday.

Issues relating to maritime security cooperation are likely to figure in talks during Dissanayaka’s visit, it said.

The December 15-17 visit is Dissanayake’s first overseas visit since being elected the island nation’s president on September 23.

Apart from his meetings with India’s political leadership, Dissanayaka will attend a business event in Delhi to promote investment and commercial linkages between India and Sri Lanka. He is also scheduled to visit Bodh Gaya, a statement from MEA said.

The invitation to visit New Delhi was extended by the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who visited Colombo less than a fortnight after Dissanayake’s victory and was the first foreign dignitary to visit the island nation since the National People’s Power (NPP) government came to power.

Dissanayake’s visit was on hold until the completion of the parliamentary election in November when his NPP recorded a historic win, gaining absolute control of the 225-member Parliament.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)