Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sri Lanka

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi visited Sri Lanka from 13 March and 14 March 2015. This was the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Sri Lanka since 1987.

He also became the first Indian Prime Minister to make journey to Jaffna and Talaimannar region of Sri Lanka.

He visited Sri Lanka in the third leg of his five-day journey to Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka from 10 March and 14 March 2015.

Main highlights of the visit

• During the visit, Modi on 13 March 2015 met the President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and discussed a wide-range of issues and fortifying the cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.
• He also met the opposition leader of Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Nimal Siripala de Silva, leaders of the Tamil National Alliance and the Former President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Kumaratunga. He also met Northern Province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran.
• He also asserted on early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment that provides for devolution on the Tamil majority Northern and Eastern provinces.
• He expressed India’s strong desire to cooperate and develop a Ramayana trail in Sri Lanka and a Buddhist Circuit in India and flagged of a train service from Talaimannar to Madhu Road.
• On 13 March 2015, Prime Minister Modi addressed the Parliament of Sri Lanka and assured Sri Lanka about India’s full commitment and support in development partnership with Sri Lanka.
• He also expressed contentment with Government of India’s decision to extend the benefit of visa on arrival facility to Sri Lanka starting 14 April 2015.
• Modi paid a visit to Mahabodhi Society and interacted with the Buddhist monks in Colombo.
• He also visited Anuradhapur, Sri Mahabodhi Tree and offered prayers along with Sirisena.
• He also visited Jaffna and laid a foundation stone of the Jaffna Cultural Centre. He also visited Naguleswaram Temple in Jaffna and offered prayers in the temple.
• In Jaffna, Prime Minister Modi handed over homes at Ilavalai North-West Housing Project site and said that around 27000 more homes would be constructed.