Lankan President's first foreign trip to India

NEW DELHI: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday held "fruitful" discussions with external affairs minister S Jaishankar and national security adviser Ajit Doval, shortly after kick-starting a three-day visit to India.

- Press Trust of India

It is Dissanayake's first foreign trip after assuming charge as the president. He will hold wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday that is expected to focus on boosting bilateral engagement in areas of trade, investment, energy and maritime security.

In his separate discussions with Jaishankar and Doval, issues relating to overall bilateral ties including ways to expand strategic ties between the two neighbouring nations are believed to have figured.

New Delhi has been maintaining that development of the two countries are "intertwined" and that it is necessary to work together keeping in mind each other's security interests and sensitivities. "Held fruitful discussions tonight with @DrSJaishankar and Shri Ajit Doval on matters of mutual interest," Dissanayake said in a post on X.

There was no official details on the discussions besides the post by the Sri Lankan leader.