President Pranab Mukherjee with Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickeremesinghe and his wife Maithree at Rashtrapati Bhavan. (PTI)
President Pranab Mukherjee today expressed hope that India-Sri Lanka relations will scale new heights under the leadership of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who expressed keenness to have close cooperation with India.
The two leaders exchanged views when Mr Wickremesinghe called on President Mukherjee in New Delhi.
Welcoming Mr Wickremesinghe who is on his first visit to India after becoming the Prime Minister last month, the President congratulated him on his victory in the general elections.
Mr Mukherjee said Mr Wickremesinghe's return to office reflects the faith the people of Sri Lanka have reposed in his leadership and party, an official statement said.
Mr Mukherjee described the geographical proximity and cultural and historic relations between India and Sri Lanka as "very special" and expressed the hope that Mr Wickremesinghe's tenure will be highly successful and bilateral relations will scale new heights.
Mr Wickremesinghe warmly reciprocated the President's sentiments and said he looks forward to close cooperation with India in the coming days, the statement said.
Mr Wickremesinghe held detailed discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday.