President Gotabaya Rajapaksa accepts invitation to tour India

COLOMBO (News 1st) - President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has accepted the invitation extended to him by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to engage in a tour of India on the 29th of November. Indian Minister of External Affairs, Dr S. Jaishankar who arrived in the country yesterday (November 19) bearing the invitation extended by Prime Minister Modi, met President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last evening. Publishing a tweet in this regard on Twitter, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said, he had accepted the invitation extended to him by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. The President's tweet further said, he had chosen India to engage in his first overseas visit, in order to strengthen the relationship with India and to improve aspects such as regional security, peace, and economic development. Following the meeting with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday, Dr. S.Jaishankar the External Affairs Minister of India said on twitter, " Conveyed PM Narendra Modi's message of a partnership for shared peace, progress, prosperity and security. " In his twitter post, Dr S Jaishankar has also said that he believes India-Sri Lanka relations would reach greater heights. Dr. S Jaishankar had also met with Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa last evening and held discussions. Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa had also attended the meeting.