NEW DELHI : Sri Lanka’s new President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today began formal talks here, during which all outstanding bilateral matters and regional issues are expected to figure. Mr Sirisena arrived here yesterday on a four-day visit, his first trip abroad after assuming office dislodging Mahinda Rajapaksa in a bitterly contested election last month. Earlier, in the morning he was given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. He also met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
India is attaching great importance to the visit of the Sri Lankan President, who is believed to be closer to India than the previous regime.
The fact that the new President has chosen India as his first destination abroad is being taken as an indication of the change in the new regime’s approach towards its big northern neighbour. Mr Sirisena, who had called up Mr Modi immediately after his elections, has already indicated that he wanted closer ties with India.
The process of reconciliation and reconstruction after the civil strife involving Sri Lankan Tamils would be high on the agenda of talks between Mr Sirisena and the Prime Minister. “First overseas visit is always an opportunity to set direction,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin had said here ahead of the visit. “We expect agreements, announcements and substantive outcome,” he said, adding that ties between the two countries were unique, based on cultural and civilisational connections. (AGENCIES)
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