In what appears to be a low-key, business-like visit to Sri Lanka, Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar had talks with his Lankan counterpart, Chitranganee Wagiswara, on the entire gamut of bilateral relations.
He also met the Minister for Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama; called on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe; and had dinner with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera. On Wednesday, prior to his departure for New Delhi, Jaishankar will call on President Maithripala Sirisena and former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, a key supporter of the Sirisena government who has also been a long standing friend of India.
This is Jaishankar’s first stand-alone visit to Lanka as Foreign Secretary.
According to officials, one of the main purposes of the visit is to prepare the ground for the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission meeting to be held here on February 5 and 6. It is significant that Jaishankar met the Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Samarwickrama as India and Lanka had agreed to fast track negotiations on the Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement to be able to sign it by the middle of this year. (NIE)
-Agencies
