For the first time in 28 years, an Indian Prime Minister undertook a bilateral visit to Sri Lanka, as Narendra Modi arrived at the island Friday morning to a warm welcome.

A distinguished delegation led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe greeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he arrived at the Katunayake International Airport at 5:30 a.m.

Modi, who swept to victory at elections held last year, is considered a revolutionary leader and visionary reformist in regional politics. Political analysts have touted the visit of the Prime Minister of the regional power as being of immense importance to Sri Lanka.

Modi was welcomed with pomp and pageantry at the Presidential Secretariat premises today, under the auspices of President Maithripala Sirisena where he was accorded a guard of honor by the Navy and was also accorded a 19-gun salute.

Bilateral talks were held between President Sirisena and Prime Minister Modi following the introduction to the cabinet of ministers. Officials signed four bilateral agreements on visa requirement exemptions for diplomatic and official passport holders; co-operation on customs matters, youth affairs development and the establishment of the Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Auditorium at the University of Ruhuna.

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