Colombo/New Delhi: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is likely to undertake his first official overseas visit to New Delhi, after he accepts an invitation by visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, a news report said.
Meanwhile, EAM Jaishankar landed in Colombo on Friday morning, and is expected to meet the new Sri Lankan leadership.
EAM in a post on X said:
“Good to be in Colombo again. Look forward to my engagements with the Sri Lankan leadership today.”
Jaishankar is the first high ranking foreign dignitary to visit Dissanayake after he won the Presidential Election on September 21.
The Indian High Commission in a statement said that in keeping with India’s neighbourhood first policy and SAGAR outlook, Jaishankar’s visit underlines the shared commitment of the two countries to further deepen the longstanding partnership for mutual benefit.
Daily Mirror quoted sources as saying that during the visit, Jaishankar is also expected to discuss the Indian funded projects in Sri Lanka and its path forward. The visiting Minister will then extend an official visit to President Dissanayake to visit New Delhi for discussions, as has been the norm with previous Sri Lankan leaderships.
It is learnt that Dissanayake will uphold this norm by the previous presidents by visiting New Delhi first.
Although the dates are yet to be finalised, the President’s first overseas visit will be after the conclusion of the November 14 Parliamentary Election.
EAM Jaishankar is also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.
The EAM and his delegation will also have a meeting with Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Jaishankar will be accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs of India.
EAM Jaishankar met Dissanayake in February this year when the current Sri Lankan president went on an official visit to India when he was in the opposition.
Last month, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited Sri Lanka before the elections and met key presidential candidates including Dissanayake.
India has been pushing for renewable energy, power, and port projects in Sri Lanka in the last few years. Some of its projects have been in limbo due to a long approval process and legal challenge in court, Economy Next reported.
