Indian PM Modi to visit Sri Lanka nextweek

Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from 13 to 14 March at the invitation of President Maithripala Sirisena, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. "On 13th March, Prime Minister Modi will be accorded a ceremonial welcome including a Guard of Honour and Gun Salute. President Maithripala Sirisena will hold bilateral discussions with the visiting Prime Minister and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will host a lunch in honour Prime Minister Modi. The Indian Prime Minister will address a Special Sitting of Parliament. He will also lay a wreath at the IPKF Memorial and visit the Mahabodhi Society. President Maithripala Sirisena will host a State Banquet in honour of the visiting Prime Minister." During the visit, the Indian Premier is expected to travel to Anuradhapura, Talaimannar and Jaffna. In Anuradhapura, he will visit the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi. While in Jaffna, the visiting Prime Minister will unveil a plaque at the site of the proposed India- funded Jaffna Cultural Centre and also hand over to beneficiaries, houses built with Indian assistance. In Talaimannar, he will flag off the first train signifying recommencement of the Talaimannar/Medawachchiya sector of the train service to Colombo, following the rehabilitation work carried out with Indian credit assistance. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit is the first official visit to Sri Lanka by an Indian Prime Minister after lapse of 27 years. President Maithripala Sirisena undertook his first State visit to India from 15 to 18 January, after assumption of the Presidency." the statement said. The exchange of high level visits is a manifestation of the keen desire of the two countries to build upon and nurture an age-old friendship to a level of extraordinary level of excellence.