City
Epaper

SL Prez, PM to visit China, India in Feb

By IANS | Updated: January 17, 2020 11:30 IST

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa are scheduled to visit China and India with the aim of further strengthening regional cooperation and enhancing relations with the two Asian powers, it was reported on Friday.

Open in App

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will visit Chinaon an invitation extended by the Chinese government, reports the Colombo Page newspaper.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who visited Sri Lanka earlier this week formally invited President Rajapaksa to Beijing.

During the visit, the President is expected to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and other top government officials and business leaders.

He is also expected to speak with representatives of the technology, tourism, infrastructure and other sectors.

The date of the visit was yet to be announced.

This is President Gotaabaya's first visit to China and the second official overseas visit after winning the presidential election on November 16, 2019.

Soon after assuming office, he visited India on an invitation extended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to leave for India on February 7 at the invitation of the Indian government.

During his visit, he is scheduled to meet Modi and other top officials of the Indian government.

He will also visit Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.

This is Mahinda Rajapaksa's first visit to India since becoming the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on November 18, 2019, and he is the third Sri Lankan government leader to visit India following the presidential election last year.

Besides the President, Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena had also visited New Delhi.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: indiaGotabaya RajapaksaSri LankaNarendra ModiMahinda Rajapaksa
Open in App

Related Stories

NationalChristmas 2025: December 25 Reflects India’s Unity and Legacy, Says PM Narendra Modi (Watch Video)

NationalChitradurga Bus Fire: PM Modi Expresses Grief, Announces Ex Gratia of Rs 2 Lakh for Kin of Deceased

NationalVinod Kumar Shukla No More: PM Modi Expresses Grief Over Death of Jnanpith Award-Winning Writer

NationalPM Modi Congratulates NDA Workers as BJP-MGP Wins Big in Goa Zilla Panchayat Polls

MaharashtraSharad Pawar Turns 85: PM Narendra Modi Wishes NCP-SP Chief Sharad Pawar for His Long and Healthy Life

International Realted Stories

InternationalUS imposes new sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector

InternationalTrump orders National Guard withdrawal from Chicago, LA, Portland

International"Departure of Sheikh Hasina provided more space to religious hardliners": South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman

InternationalSouth Asia analyst Michael Kugelman calls Khaleda Zia 'political titan' of Bangladesh

International"Need to treat this claim with scepticism": South Asia analyst after China claims role in mediating India-Pak conflict