In neighbourhood-first policy, Modi to visit Sri Lanka this Sunday

(FASTNEWS|COLOMBO) – Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi will this weekend visit two neighbouring countries – Sri Lanka and Maldives – the Indian Foreign Ministry statement announced on Monday (03), his first visits abroad after taking Office in his second term.

“Prime Minister Modi will also visit Sri Lanka on 9 June 2019 at the invitation of Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,” the statement said.

“The visits to Sri Lanka and Maldives will demonstrate the priority India attaches to its ‘Neighbourhood-First Policy’ and the SAGAR Doctrine,” it said. SAGAR refers to “Security and Growth for All in the Region” – a doctrine outlined by Premier Modi in 2015 aiming to keep the Indian Ocean Region peaceful and secure.

Indian Premier will be visiting Sri Lanka in a trip that aims to express solidarity with the country against the backdrop of the 21 April Easter bombings. Sri Lankan President was one of 8 Foreign Leaders who visited India for Premier Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on 30 May.

During their talks on 31 May in New Delhi, “The Leaders noted that terrorism and extremism continue to pose threat to humanity and committed to closer bilateral cooperation for peace and security in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region,” an Indian Foreign Ministry statement said.