Modi arrives in Sri Lanka after wrapping up Maldives visit

Male, June 09: Narendra Modi, on his first foreign visit after re-election as Prime Minister, on Sunday arrived in Sri Lanka from Maldives. Modi had reached Maldives' capital Male on Saturday. He was conferred with Maldives' highest honour "Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen".

PM Modi is expected to discuss a range of issues with President Maithripala Sirisena and other top officials in the Sri Lankan government. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said PM Modi's visit to Sri Lanka on June 9 will be a clear message of solidarity in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings that rocked the island nation in April.

"PM Modi coming to Sri Lanka soon after his re-election and the invitation to Bimstec leaders to his inauguration this year is a good gesture. Not only is India the largest country of this region, but PM Modi is also one of its senior-most politicians," Mahinda Rajapaksa, former President of Sri Lanka and the leader of the Opposition, told Hindustan Times.

Ahead of his visit to Sri Lanka, PM Modi had made it clear that India stands with Sri Lanka in fighting terrorism in the wake of the attack on April 21, 2019.

The island nation has been on high alert ever since the terror attack and has deeply affected tourism and bilateral relations.

"An affectionate goodbye PM @narendramodi departs for Sri Lanka on the second leg of his first overseas visit after a successful visit to Maldives (sic)," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Modi's visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka on June 8-9 highlights his government's firm emphasis on the Neighbourhood First policy.'

[India will help conserve Maldives' oldest and iconic Friday Mosque]

On Saturday, addressing the Maldivian Parliament, 'the Majlis', PM Modi, in a veiled attack on Pakistan, said that terrorism is not just a threat for a country but to the entire civilisation. The Prime Minister also held talks with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Modi said that India will contribute to the conservation of one of the Maldives' oldest and iconic Friday Mosque, a historic landmark made up of coral stones.

Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih thanked the Indian side for their offer to carry out restoration of the mosque by the Archaeological Survey of India under an Indian grant.