Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe during his official visit to Sri Lanka this morning (11).
The meeting took place at the Ministry of Defence and focused on enhancing bilateral relations and working towards future economic and social goals that would benefit both countries’ populations, the President's 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.
Discussions also centred on President Wickremesinghe’s upcoming official visit to India and the planned activities during the visit. The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Bagley was also present.
Foreign Secretary Kwatra also held discussions with the National Security Adviser and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayaka.
A point of positive transformation in the relationship
Foreign Secretary Kwatra said that discussions with Sri Lankan leadership as well as the Foreign Ministry were essentially focused on trying to ensure that the upcoming visit of President Wickremesinghe is actually a point of positive transformation in the relationship.
"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," a statement by the Indian High Commission in Colombo said.
