India confirms Jaishankar's visit to Sri Lanka & Maldives

by Zulfick Farzan 18-01-2023 | 9:01 AM

COLOMBO (News 1st) - India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will pay an official visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka from 18-20 January 2023, confirmed the Indian External Affairs Ministry.

Dr. S. Jaishankar will first visit the Maldives, and thereafter fly to Sri Lanka.

India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar's visit to Sri Lanka will follow his earlier visits to Sri Lanka in January 2021 and March 2022.

The Indian External Affairs Ministry said that Sri Lanka is a close friend and neighbour, and India has stood with the people of Sri Lanka at all times.

During his visit to Sri Lanka Dr. S. Jaishankar will meet Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

He will also hold discussions with Minister of Foreign Affairs M.U.M. Ali Sabry on the entire gamut of close India-Sri Lanka partnership and steps to strengthen it in all spheres.

During his visit to the Maldives, Dr. S. Jaishankar would call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and hold discussions with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid.

The Indian External Affairs Ministry said that both Maldives and Sri Lanka are India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and occupy special place in Prime Minister’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and ‘Neighbourhood First’.

Dr. S. Jaishankar's visit is testimony to the importance that India attaches to its close and friendly relations with the Maldives and Sri Lanka, it added.