New Delhi : Newly appointed Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Mangala Samaraweera, will visit India on January 18, his first foreign tour after assuming office.
“Late last evening, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had a telephonic conversation with the newly appointed External Affairs Minister of Sri Lanka, Mangala Samaraweera.
Swaraj congratulated him and invited him to visit India at an early date. This was followed by a written invitation,” official sources said.
They further said, “The invitation has now been accepted.
Samaraweera has decided to visit India, his first overseas visit as Foreign Minister, for discussions with Swaraj on January 18.”
It will be the first high-level visit between India and Sri Lanka after the installation of the new government in the island nation.
A spokesperson for Sri Lanka government has already announced that India would be President Maithripala Sirisena’s maiden foreign visit destination next month.
“Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi asked the President to visit India and wanted the visit to take place this month itself. But he (Sirisena) said this month may not be possible because he is still settling down, but early next month is OK,” Lankan government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne had said. (PTI)
