PM Modi receives ceremonial welcome as he begins Sri Lanka visit

COLOMBO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Colombo’s Independence Square on Friday as he began a two-day visit to Sri Lanka aimed at deepening regional ties and development cooperation.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake greeted him at the venue, marking the start of a packed diplomatic schedule.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi was warmly welcomed at his hotel, where he was seen shaking hands with members of the Indian diaspora and witnessing a puppet show performed in his honour. The vibrant reception reflected the strong cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Members of the Indian diaspora welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People carrying flags of India expressed excitement over PM Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka.

He was seen shaking hands and interacting with the Indian diaspora members at the hotel. PM Modi witnessed a puppet show as he arrived at the hotel in Colombo.

During this visit, he will meet Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and review the progress made on the joint vision of “Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future.”

PM Modi reached Sri Lanka after his visit to Thailand, during which he held a bilateral meeting with his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra and attended the BIMSTEC Summit. He also held bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit.

Head of the Yoga department at Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Vyasa Kalyanasundaram, praised PM Modi’s role in spreading Yoga and said that his effort gave a seal and recognition to Yoga.

“Yoga was in existence in various ashrams, institutions, yogis, great saints and sages. The Prime Minister’s effort gave a seal and recognition, he said.

“Earlier, it was only with a small group of people…who are into spiritualism as a healing, as a spiritual practice. But Prime Minister’s effort went into another step as a therapy and as bringing an individual’s efficiency, whether in personal, public or corporate life… People are getting excited about it. In Sri Lanka, there are various yoga centres and yoga practices. Even in various hotels, yoga has been taken up in a great way. Yoga and Ayurveda are going hand in hand and have been accepted by everyone, he added.

In a special welcome, despite the rain, six top ministers of Sri Lanka received PM Modi at the airport. Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath; Minister of Health and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip Nalinda Jayatissa; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha; Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ramalingam Chandrasekar; Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj; and Minister of Science and Technology Chrishantha Abeysena received PM Modi at the airport.

“Landed in Colombo. Grateful to the ministers and dignitaries who welcomed me at the airport. Looking forward to the programmes in Sri Lanka,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

During his stay, PM Modi will travel to Anuradhapura to inaugurate development projects funded by India. He will also review progress under the joint vision of “Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future” in discussions with President Dissanayake. PM Modi’s last visit to Sri Lanka was in 2019. (ANI)

PM Modi’s arrival in Colombo came after his visit to Thailand, where he held a bilateral meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and attended the BIMSTEC Summit. On the sidelines, he engaged in further bilateral discussions, laying the groundwork for this leg of his regional outreach. (ANI)