President concludes India State Visit

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake successfully concluded his State Visit to India, at the invitation of Indian President Droupadi Murmu, from 15-17 December. This was his first State Visit since being elected President in September, symbolizing the deep rooted cultural and civilizational ties and the vibrant contemporary relationship nurtured by the two countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated. 

Received by President Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the President was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan with a 21-gun salute and Honour Guard. The two Presidents also had discussions on matters relating to the bilateral relationship, including the need for enhanced cooperation in a myriad of spheres based on the common heritage of tradition and values, and a vision for the future. A State Banquet in honour of President Disanayaka was hosted by President Murmu.

Prime Minister Modi welcomed the Sri Lankan President and the delegation at Hyderabad House for comprehensive talks on the gamut of matters of mutual bilateral interest focusing on connectivity, development cooperation, agriculture, trade, investment, tourism, fisheries issues and people to people ties. The President invited the Indian Prime Minister to undertake an Official visit to Sri Lanka at mutual convenience, the Ministry said. 

The bilateral talks culminated in the ‘India-Sri Lanka Joint Statement - Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future’, affirming commitment to progress the bilateral relationship to a mutually beneficial partnership for the well-being of the peoples of the two countries. 

Two bilateral legal instruments, namely, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration and National Centre for Good Governance of the Government of India for training and capacity-building of 1500 civil servants of Sri Lanka and a Protocol for amending the Agreement of Avoidance of Double Taxation were exchanged by the two sides.

Both leaders also jointly addressed the media at the Hyderabad House. President Dissanayake paid tribute to the life of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, the memorial for the ‘Father of the Nation’. He also planted an ‘Ashoka 
Pendula’ plant at the adjacent Gandhi Darshan precinct. 

Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar, Minister of Health & Family Welfare and President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jagat Prakash Nadda, Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of External Affairs Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on President Dissanayake during his stay in New Delhi.