President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in India this morning (09) via Indira Gandhi Airport to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi, who has been elected as the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive term.
President Wickremesinghe was warmly welcomed at the airport by Additional Secretary P. Kumaran on behalf of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, Indian Ocean Region Additional Secretary Puneeth Agrawal and Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Kshenuka Senewiratne.
The reception also featured a dance performance showcasing Indian culture.
The swearing-in ceremony, presided over by Indian President Draupadi Murmu, will take place this evening (09) at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
President Wickremesinghe’s arrival received significant media coverage in India, with billboards featuring his and Prime Minister Modi’s images displayed around key locations in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party alliance secured victory in the Indian general election, which was conducted over seven phases spanning 44 days. Following the confirmation of this victory, Modi was officially appointed as the leader of the National Democratic Alliance.
Accompanying President Wickremesinghe on this visit are President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary Aruni Wijewardene, Government Information Director General Dinith Chinthaka Karunaratne, and President’s Private Secretary Sandra Perera.
