New Delhi (NVI): Moving swiftly to reach out to the new government in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday sent External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Colombo to invite newly-elected President Gotbaya Rajapaksa to Delhi on November 29, which was accepted.
Jaishankar went to Colombo and met Rajapaksa, soon after the new President of Sri Lanka took over.
“A warm meeting with Sri Lanka President @GotabayaR. Conveyed PM @narendramodi’s message of a partnership for shared peace, progress, prosperity & security. Confident that under his leadership, #IndiaSriLanka relations would reach greater heights,” the External Affairs Minister tweeted.
“President @GotabayaR has accepted PM @narendramodi’s invitation to visit India on 29th November,” he added in another tweet.
Earlier on Sunday, Modi called up Rajapaksa to congratulate him on his electoral victory which came on that day and extended an invitation to him to visit India at his earliest convenience.
Rajapaksa, the brother of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, thanked Modi for his wishes and expressed readiness to work with India very closely to ensure development and security, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Prior to his telephonic call to Rajapaksa, Modi tweeted his messages of congratulation to the Sri Lankan leader.
“Congratulations @GotabayaR on your victory in the Presidential elections. I look forward to working closely with you for deepening the close and fraternal ties between our two countries and citizens, and for peace, prosperity as well as security in our region,” Modi tweeted.
The swift move by India assumes significance as China is making desperate attempts to woo Sri Lanka. China is already building some projects in Sri Lanka, much to the discomfort of India.
