Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena. (Press Trust of India photo)
India and Sri Lanka are standing at the threshold of an "unprecedented opportunity" to take the bilateral relationship to the next level, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after his talks with visiting Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday.
The two countries have signed a number of agreements, the most crucial of them being a civil nuclear deal. Also on the anvil was the vexed issue of the arrest of fishermen - which had caused strain in the Union government's relations with Tamil Nadu.
"President Sirisena and I attach the highest importance to the fishermen issue. We agreed that there must be a constructive humanitarian approach and will address fishermen associations on both sides soon," PM Modi said after the meeting.
Mr Srirsena, who said he had chosen India for his maiden state visit as President, hailed the growing ties between the two countries. "I fully appreciate PM Modi's wishes, his visit will be an honour for our country," he added at the joint press conference after a working lunch hosted by PM Modi at the Hyderabad House.
The two countries also signed pacts on trade, culture and cooperation in the energy sector. India, PM Modi said, was pleased to be Sri Lanka's largest trading partner.
"We have expressed support for more balanced growth in both directions," he said. "The bilateral agreement on civil nuclear cooperation is another demonstration of our mutual trust."
Sri Lanka is also to help India with the Nalanda University revival project - it would be a reminder of the over-2000 year-old ties between the two nations, PM Modi said.
The other issues discussed include agriculture and the peace and reconciliation process in the island nation. Mr Sirisena, 63, had replaced Mahinda Rajapaksa after his 10-year rule in a bitter Presidential contest in January.