Sri Lanka PM Harini Amarasuriya’s 3-day visit begins today, key bilaterals on the table

Ahead of the visit, she said: “This will be my first official visit to India as a Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. India and Sri Lanka, as you know, are bound together by history, culture and shared values. Our relationship is one of great depth and importance and I look forward to using this opportunity to strengthen our cooperation in every sphere, such as trade, investment, education, development and beyond.”

Amarasuriya, an alumna of Hindu College, is visiting India over six months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan PM’s visit continues the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Sri Lanka, advancing the deep and multi-faceted bilateral ties, the MEA said in a statement. “It will further strengthen the bonds of friendship, reinforced by India’s ‘MAHASAGAR Vision’ and its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy,” it said.

Modi announced the vision MAHASAGAR or ‘Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions’ for India’s engagement with the Global South during his visit to Mauritius in March. The Sri Lankan PM will also deliver a keynote address at the ‘NDTV World Summit’.

Amarasuriya, who is also the Education minister of Sri Lanka, will visit IIT Delhi, her alma mater Hindu College, as well as NITI Aayog to explore avenues of collaboration in education and technology, the MEA said.

In addition, she will participate in a business event to strengthen commercial linkages between the countries, the MEA said. Amarasuriya, who reached Beijing on Sunday, took part in the international Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women on Monday and later held talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and China’s top political advisor Wang Huning.