Sushma Swaraj calls on PM

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on the first day of her two-day visit to the country.

“A warm wlecome by a close neighbour. EAM @SushmaSwaraj calls on PM Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees,” external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted along with pictures of the two leaders.

Earlier on Friday, she was received on her arrival here by her Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera. She is scheduled to attend the ninth session of the India—Sri Lanka Joint Commission which she co-chairs with Mr. Samaraweera.

The joint commission was established in 1992 as an effective mechanism to address matters pertaining to bilateral cooperation.

Ahead of Ms. Swaraj’s visit, Mr. Swarup said on Thursday that the discussions in Friday’s joint commission meeting would cover the entire gamut of the relationship between the two countries.

Included in these would be economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to-people contacts.

During the course of her visit, Ms. Swaraj will also call on Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga.

On Saturday, the Indian Minister will inaugurate a “Rise of Digital India” exhibition as part of “Sangam — Festival of India in Sri Lanka 2015—16”. The exhibition will showcase the rise of the computing sector and digital technologies in India.