Indian Foreign Secretary here ahead of President’s upcoming official visit to India

Visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said that the upcoming visit by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to India is a point of positive transformation in the Indo - Lanka bilateral ties. 

“My discussions earlier today with the Sri Lankan leadership as also with the Foreign Ministry were essentially focused on trying to ensure that the upcoming visit of the Sri Lankan President is actually a point of positive transformation in the relationship,” Secretary Kwatra said. 

The top Indian foreign official arrived in the country last night on a short visit. Following the official engagements including a meeting with President Wickremesinghe today, he left the island in the afternoon by 4.00 pm in a special Indian Air Force flight. 

This would be first visit President Wickremesinghe will undertake as the Head of the State to neighbouring India since he assumed duties as Executive President. 

“We also discussed the key areas of partnership that we could progress ahead of the visit, going into the visit, priorities of the Sri Lankan leadership, as also shared with this the perspective of our leadership on the relationship, the strength of the relationship, different elements of cooperation in the relationship, elements of our partnership in years ahead across the entire matrix of economic partnership that India and Sri Lanka enjoy,” Secretary Kwatra said. 

The visiting Foreign Secretary met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Ministry of Defence where the meeting focused on enhancing bilateral relations and working towards future economic and social goals that would benefit both countries' populations, President Media Division said. 

During the meeting, President Wickremesinghe briefed the Indian Foreign Secretary on the government’s reform program aimed at strengthening the country’s economy. He also acknowledged India’s continuous support as a neighbouring ally during the recent economic crisis.

Additionally, they discussed President Wickremesinghe’s upcoming official visit to India and the planned activities during the visit. 

In another development, Indian Foreign Secretary Kwatra also held discussions with Sagala Ratnayaka, the President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff.