Modi says Gotabaya visit will strengthen Indo-Lanka ties

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's visit as a move towards energising and strengthening the bond with neigbouring Sri Lanka.

"His visit is a testimony to the time-tested ties between India and Sri Lanka," Modi said in a tweet.

Happy to receive @GotabayaR on his first overseas visit as the President of Sri Lanka.

His visit is a testimony to the time-tested ties between India and Sri Lanka and will help strengthen our bonds as well as energise our partnership. pic.twitter.com/siMQzFpuDk

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 29, 2019

Rajapaksa is on a two-day visit to India - his first foreign tour after being elected into office this month.

During talks with his Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind, President Rajapaksa said he would work towards uplifting Sri Lanka's ties with India, his office said.

President Kovind has termed Rajapaksa's visit as an exercise towards developing the friendship between both countries.

Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Minister S.Jaishankar during his talks with the Sri Lankan President has stressed that a strong leadership is required to improve trade ties among foreign nations.

He had said that Prime Minister Modi's intention is to foster a strong economic partnership with Sri Lanka in the coming years.