New Delhi: A 24-member delegation from Sri Lanka met Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in New Delhi on Wednesday, marking the beginning of a two-week visit aimed at further strengthening the close bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka.
Comprising young political leaders from 14 different political parties, including 20 Members of Parliament, the delegation also includes Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih and four senior officials of the Sri Lankan Parliament, including the Secretary General. Their visit underscores the growing emphasis on fostering deeper political, economic, and cultural collaboration between the two neighbouring countries.
Foreign Secretary Misri highlighted the crucial role of young political leaders in shaping the future of India-Sri Lanka relations. “The Foreign Secretary emphasised their valuable role in deepening the India-Sri Lanka partnership as stakeholders in its future roadmap,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a post on X. He also stressed the importance of their engagement in regional geopolitics and discussed recent security agreements signed between the two nations.
The MEA noted that this initiative is part of India’s broader effort to promote mutual understanding and cooperation through people-to-people and political exchanges. Ahead of the delegation’s arrival in India, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha had interacted with the group in Colombo and discussed initiatives aimed at building lasting linkages for a shared and prosperous future.
India and Sri Lanka enjoy a civilisational relationship spanning over 2,500 years, built on strong historical, cultural, and social bonds. Sri Lanka holds a pivotal place in India’s 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the MAHASAGAR vision — an acronym for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — which seeks to deepen regional integration and shared prosperity.
The current visit follows a landmark development in April when Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first foreign leader to pay a state visit to Sri Lanka following the assumption of office by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in September 2024. During the visit, both leaders engaged in comprehensive discussions, both in restricted and delegation-level formats, to reinforce the special and multifaceted ties between the two countries.
Prime Minister Modi announced a wide-ranging support package that included the annual training of 700 Sri Lankan citizens in capacity building and economic sectors, as well as the conclusion of bilateral agreements on debt restructuring. He reaffirmed India's enduring commitment to assist Sri Lanka in its economic recovery and long-term stabilisation.
The evolving partnership between India and Sri Lanka reflects maturity and diversification across all contemporary areas of mutual interest. With strong people-to-people connections and a shared socio-cultural heritage as its foundation, the relationship continues to grow into a robust and multi-dimensional collaboration.
With IANS inputs