New Delhi: Clearing the air on doubts over the future of India-Sri Lanka relationship post thumping victory of Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the recently concluded polls in Ceylon, President of Sri Lanka has now extended an invitation to PM Modi to visit the island nation.
During the joint statement in the national capital, the newly elected Sri Lankan President said, "I would avail of this opportunity to invite PM Modi to visit us as the first head of government to visit Sri Lanka since my election as the president of Sri Lanka."
The extension of the invitation from Sri Lankan President to PM Modi proves that Gotabaya administration wants to restore and rebuild its ties with New Delhi especially with Modi administration and leave the past behind. It doesn't have any intentions of putting the wrong foot forward.
Things between India and Sri Lanka soared in 2014 when Gotabaya Rajapaksa's brother Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was the president of Sri Lanka then allowed Chinese submarines to dock in Sri Lanka without informing New Delhi.
Not only this, Ceylon even borrowed heavily from Beijing for infrastructure projects.
Both, PM Modi and President Rajapaksa, held discussions on many key issues. Sri Lankan President also made it clear that issues related to security were the priority in his discussion with PM Modi. To which, PM Modi mentioned Easter terror attack in Sri Lanka earlier this year and extended a $50 million credit line to Ceylon combat terror.
India has also extended a $400 million line of credit for infrastructure and developmental projects in the island nation. PM Modi also expressed his confidence in Gotabaya administration that it will work towards fulfilling the aspiration of the Tamil by taking the national reconciliation process forward.
Gotabaya also assured the New Delhi administration that it will release Indian boats in its custody. He also said that his government will continue to work with India to make sure that the Indian Ocean continues to remain peaceful.
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