Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to visit India this week

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe will be in India on an official visit on July 21, 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Tuesday.

This will be President Wickremesinghe’s first visit to India since assuming the current responsibilities following widespread protests due to a severe economic crisis.

During his visit, President Wickremesinghe will meet President Droupadi Murmu and hold discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Indian dignitaries on a range of issues of mutual interest, the MEA said.

According to the MEA, Sri Lanka is an important partner in India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and Vision SAGAR. The visit will reinforce the longstanding friendship between the two countries and explore avenues for enhanced connectivity and mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors.

India has been consistent in its support to Sri Lanka since the beginning of the current economic crisis, helping out with humanitarian aid as well as financial assistance. In 2022, India provided unprecedented financial support of USD 4 billion, in line with the ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy.

India was also instrumental in ensuring that Sri Lanka received a bailout package of USD 2.9 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). India was the first creditor nation of Sri Lanka to support debt restructuring and convey financing assurances to the IMF.

"India is a reliable neighbour, a trustworthy partner, one who is prepared to go the extra mile when Sri Lanka feels the need. We will stand by Sri Lanka in this hour of need and are confident that it will overcome the challenges it faces," EAM Jaishankar had said after meeting Sri Lankan President Wickremsinghe during a visit to Colombo in January this year.