In his maiden foreign trip after assuming charge, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena arrived in Delhi on Sunday on a four-day visit during which he will hold talks with the Indian leadership on the entire gamut of bilateral ties including ways to further enhance cooperation, peace and the reconciliation process in the island nation.
Mr Sirisena, who had dethroned Mahinda Rajapaksa from his 10-year rule after a bitter Presidential poll, has already indicated that he wants to have a closer relationship with India and chose it for his first foreign visit. The Sri Lankan President and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold today during which they are likely to deliberate on all major issues such as devolution of power to the Tamil community and the fishermen issue.
India has been hoping that the new Lankan government will develop ties on the "foundation of genuine and effective reconciliation" creating harmony among all sections there.
The amendment that followed the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord of July 1987 signed between the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and then Sri Lankan President JR Jayewardene envisaged the devolution of powers to the provinces in the midst of the island's bitter ethnic conflict.
Mr Sirisena is leading a delegation that includes Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, Resettlement Minister DM Swaminathan, Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka and Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rajapaksha.
In the meeting between Ms Swaraj and Mr Samaraweera, both sides agreed to re-engage on repatriation of refugees from India, besides holding talks on a raft of crucial issues, including political reconciliation process and the sticky fishermen issue.
Last week, the Spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry had said both the countries were looking at
"substantive talks".
February 17 before returning home on February 18.
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