Modi and Ranil hold key talks on Indo-Lanka relations
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe today took stock of the bilateral ties amid India recently showing interest to run an airport close to a port developed by China in the island nation, the Hindustan Times reported.
The visiting Prime Minister, who is in India primarily to attend the 5th Global Conference on Cyber Space, also called on President Ram Nath Kovind.
With New Delhi expressing interest to run the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) near Hambantota port developed by the Chinese, the meeting between the two leaders assumed further significance.
Sri Lanka is already an important partner for India in the Indian Ocean region (IOR), where China is trying to increase its influence.
Wickremesinghe arrived in India on Wednesday. He arrived at the national capital from Bengaluru, which was his first destination.
He was received at the New Delhi airport by Indian high commissioner to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
“A partnership marked by historical linkages and deep rooted friendship. Sri Lankan Prime Minister @RW_UNP arrives in New Delhi to participate in the 5th Global Conference on Cyber Space 2017,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. (Colombo Gazette)
