Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena for the second time in 10 days and agreed that terrorism was a “joint threat” that needed collective and focussed action. The two leaders had last week met at Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.
Modi is the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lanka afterthe horrible terror attack of April 21 that killed over 250 people and wasclaimed by the Islamic State. His visit is being seen as India’s affirmation ofsolidarity with the neighbouring country in its hour of crisis.
The Prime Minister’s Office described his visit as”important, signifying the strong bonds of friendship with a valuedneighbour”.
“Met President @MaithripalaS, our second meeting in 10days. President Sirisena and I agreed that terrorism is a joint threat thatneeds collective and focussed action. Reiterated India’s commitment to partnerwith Sri Lanka for a shared, secure and prosperous future,” Modi tweetedafter his meeting.
The Prime Minister also met his Sri Lankan counterpart RanilWickremsinghe and Leader of Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa during the short tripto the island nation.
Modi, who arrived here from the Maldives, started the daywith a visit to one of the sites of the April 21 attacks, the St Anthony’schurch.
“I am confident Sri Lanka will rise again. Cowardlyacts of terror cannot defeat the spirit of Sri Lanka. India stands insolidarity with the people of Sri Lanka. My heart goes out to the families ofthe victims and the injured,” he later tweeted.
Before his departure, the Prime Minister interacted withmembers of the Indian Community in Sri Lanka at India House and emphasised theimportant role played by them in strengthening bilateral relations.
The Prime Minister said the Indian democracy had beenstrengthened by the sweeping mandate in the general elections.
President Sirisena presented Modi with statue of meditatingBuddha. The PMO called the statue “a special gift from a specialfriend”. India is Sri Lanka’s largest trading partnerglobally, and it also accounts for the largest FDI in the island nation.