PM Modi Receives Ceremonial Welcome At Independence Square During Sri Lanka Visit: WATCH
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a ceremonial welcome on Saturday at the Independence Square in Colombo as he began his three-day visit in Sri Lanka. He was greeted by Sri Lankan president Anura Dissanayake at the venue.
PM Modi landed in Sri Lanka on Friday to a rousing welcome as he was received by five top Sri Lankan ministers, including Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar at the Bandaranaike airport in Colombo.
"Landed in Colombo. Grateful to the ministers and dignitaries who welcomed me at the airport. Looking forward to the programmes in Sri Lanka," PM Modi said on X.
PM Modi was also accorded a warm welcome by a group of Indian-origin people at the Taj Samudra, the hotel he is staying in during his visit. PM's Sri Lanka visit comes right after he concluded a two-day trip to Thailand where he attended the BIMSETC Summit and engaged in bilateral discussions on the sidelines.
The Prime Minister is the first foreign leader to be hosted by Dissanayake in his capacity as the president. PM Modi's last visited Sri Lanka in 2019.
PM Modi and the Sri Lankan president are set to hold one-on-one and delegation-level talks on Saturday, which are likely to produce at least 10 outcomes, including a defence cooperation agreement and frameworks for deeper engagement in the energy sector. Eight memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed during the visit.
PM Modi is also scheduled to travel to Anuradhapura to inaugurate development projects funded by India. He will also review progress made under the joint vision of "Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future".
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