Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will undertake an official visit to India in the third week of December at the invitation of the Indian government.
The announcement was made by Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa during a press briefing held today (November 26).
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that during the visit, President Dissanayake will hold discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Minister Jaishankar, who was the first foreign dignitary to meet Dissanayake after his election as President in September, had extended the invitation at that time.
In October, Jaishankar visited Sri Lanka following the establishment of the National People’s Power (NPP) government, led by Dissanayake, on September 23. While in Colombo, Jaishankar held courtesy meetings with President Dissanayake and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, reaffirming India’s commitment to fostering strong bilateral ties.
The formal invitation for President Dissanayake to visit India was conveyed by Jaishankar on behalf of Prime Minister Modi, with December now confirmed as the visit’s timeframe.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jayatissa also disclosed that the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka has extended an invitation for President Dissanayake to visit China. While the invitation has been acknowledged, the specific timeline for the visit has yet to be determined.
