PM Modi To Undertake 2-Day Sri Lanka Visit From Friday, To Address Spl Session Of Parliament
06 March, Colombo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a two day official visit to Sri Lanka from next Friday. He will be the first Indian Prime Minister in 27 years to visit the Island nation.
According to a press release by Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry, PM Modi will visit Anuradhapura, Thalaimannar and Jaffna besides capital Colombo.
On the 13th, he will be given a ceremonial welcome including a Guard of Honour and a Gun Salute. Later in the day, he will hold bilateral discussions with President Maithripala Sirisena. This will be followed by a lunch hosted by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his honor.
In Colombo, Prime Minister will address a Special Sitting of Parliament. He will also lay a wreath at the IPKF Memorial and visit the Mahabodhi Society. President Maithripala Sirisena will host a State Banquet in honour in the evening.
On the 14th, PM will visit the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura, where the sacred Bodhi tree has been planted. While in Jaffna, Prime Minister will unveil a plaque at the site of the proposed India-funded Jaffna Cultural Centre.
He will also hand over to the beneficiaries, the houses built with Indian assistance. At Thalaimannar, PM Modi will flag off the first train from the city to Colombo. The Northern Rail route of Sri Lanka has been restored by the Indian Railways’ company, IRCON, with Indian line of credit.
Meanwhile Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Venkaiah Naidu has expressed hope that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka will pave way for the rebuilding of the lives of Tamils living in the island nation.
Speaking to newspersons at Chennai Airport Friday , the Minister said that India will urge the Sri Lankan Government on the issue of giving equal rights to the Tamils and also to ensure resettlement of Tamils in their own areas.
Replying to another query, Venkaiah Naidu said that the land acquisition bills will not affect the farmers in anyway. He accused the opposition parties for stalling the parliamentary proceedings while introducing bills meant for the better development of the Nation.