PM to undertake first overseas visit to India

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa would make a state visit to India from February 7 to 11, 2020, on an invitation extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

It said the visit will be the first overseas visit undertaken by Prime Minister Rajapaksa after the assumption of his duties as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in November 2019.

During the visit, Prime Minister Rajapaksa would have high-level bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind, External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and other senior government officials.

“The scheduled meetings would build on the strong relationship that already exists between the two countries and include discussions on politics, trade, development, defence, culture and tourism, among others,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.

During the state visit of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in November last year, Prime Minister Modi announced a US$ 450 million fresh line of credit to Sri Lanka.

The two countries are expected to finalize the implementation agenda during this forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Rajapaksa. In addition to that, follow-up discussions on the Indian assistance to enhance training opportunities for Sri Lanka are expected in the fields of vocational training and training of the public services.