Colombo: Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has arrived in Sri Lanka for his first visit during his second consecutive term in office, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations through talks with the country’s leadership.
Jaishankar was warmly received in Colombo by Tharaka Balasuriya, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Senthil Thondaman, Governor of the Eastern Province, upon his arrival.
Expressing his gratitude for the warm welcome, Jaishankar took to social media platform X to share his anticipation for meetings with the Sri Lankan leadership. He underscored the significance of Sri Lanka in India’s Neighbourhood First and SAGAR policies.
India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy reflects its commitment to fostering friendly and mutually beneficial relations with neighboring countries, while SAGAR, or Security and Growth for All in the Region, outlines India’s vision for maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.
This standalone bilateral visit to Sri Lanka marks Jaishankar’s first official engagement since assuming office for the second term. Previously, he represented India at the G7 Outreach summit in Italy as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s delegation.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi highlighted that Jaishankar’s meetings with Sri Lankan leadership will cover a wide range of issues, affirming India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and its enduring commitment to Sri Lanka.
The visit is expected to inject momentum into ongoing connectivity projects and enhance cooperation across various sectors, further solidifying the close ties between the two maritime neighbors.
Notably, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was among the prominent leaders from India’s neighborhood and the Indian Ocean region who attended the recent swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers in India.
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