PM Modi and Sri Lankan Prez Rajapaksa to hold talks here

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who arrived here on Thursday  on his first overseas visit since assuming office, will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Friday.

Both the leaders are likely to discuss areas of cooperation and ways to strengthen existing bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Sri Lankan President will call on President Ram Nath Kovind as well. The visiting dignitary will also pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, official sources said.

"A civilisational relationship nurtured through millennia. President Gotabaya on his first overseas visit since assuming office arrives in India on a State visit at PM Narendra Modi's invitation, demonstrating the strength and dynamism of India-Sri Lanka relations.

Rajapaksa is here on a three day state visit to India. The visiting dignitary will be accorded a ceremonial reception on the forecourts of Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Before his departure from Colombo, Gotabaya tweeted that during the visit, he is looking forward to strengthening bilateral relations with India.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was first foreign dignitary to meet new Sri Lankan President last week.