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PM Modi to visit Sri Lanka on June 9

Pratidin Bureau

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visitSri Lanka who will be the first foreign dignitary to visit the country sincethe Easter bombings that killed over 250 people.

During his visit Modi will meet Sri LankanPresident Maithripala Sirisena, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition leaderMahinda Rajapaksa and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R Sampanthan. It iscalled as 'short but packed visit' by Indian side.

Modi's intention to visit Sri Lanka is toexpress solidarity with the Government and the people of Sri Lanka in the wakeof the terrible terrorist attacks there last Easter on 21 April 2019. Indiastands with Sri Lanka in the fight against terrorism. India's bilateralrelations with Sri Lanka have gained considerable momentum in last few years.

Modi added in his departure statement beforehis visit that he had the pleasure of meeting President Sirisena during thelatter's visit to India to attend the oath taking ceremony of the Modi's newgovernment for the second term.

Sajith Premadasa, the 52-year-old Sri Lankanhousing minister who could become the island nation's president by the end ofthe year will be accompanying Modi throughout the visit.

The official also said that Modi is likely totake the straight route for St Anthony's church, which came under attack onEaster Sunday.

No fresh bilateralagreements are expected to be signed on Sunday.Chaos and discordance in SriLanka could be a reason for it.

The official further asked that how can anyagreements be signed when you have a doer and fast mover like the Indian PM onone hand, and a squabbling PM and President in Colombo, who have been unable totake forward even earlier MoUs, on the other.

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