Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to visit India on December 15

Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will arrive in India on December 15, marking his maiden visit to the neighbouring country after winning the polls a few months ago.

The Sri Lankan leader will be visiting India from December 15 to 17.

“This will be the first bilateral visit of President Disanayaka to India after the recently concluded presidential and parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka,” read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The Sri Lankan President will meet his Indian counterpart Droupadi Murmu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and discuss bilateral issues of mutual interest.

“President Disanayaka will also participate in a business event in Delhi to promote investment and commercial linkages between India and Sri Lanka. Further, he will visit Bodh Gaya as part of the visit,” read the MEA statement.

The Indian government described Sri Lanka as the country’s closest maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and said it holds a central place in Prime Minister Modi’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.

During India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Sri Lanka in October, he invited President Dissanayake to India.

Jaishankar also met Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya during his trip to the Island Nation.

The EAM also met former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Leader of SJB, Sajith Premadasa.