SL Prime Minister leaves for India

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 July 2004, 16:17 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse Saturday night left for India on a two day official visit at the invitation of his counterpart Dr.Manmohan Singh. This is Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse's first official visit abroad after he became the Prime Minister.

The Sri Lankan delegation led by Mr.Rajapakse includes Trade, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Mr.Jayaraj Fernandopulle and Agriculture, Livestock and Mahaveli Minister Mr.Anura Dissanayake. Mr.Anura Dissanayake is a member of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a constituent of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), political sources said

Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse is scheduled to meet the Indian Finance Minister Mr.P.Chidambaram and Indian Congress leader Ms Sonia Gandhi on Sunday. Mr.Rajapakse is to meet Indian Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh on Monday, the sources said.

Both leaders are expected to review existing relations between the two countries and to take steps to strengthen ties, according to the sources.

Mr. Rajapakse's first India visit has been restricted to two days as he has to be in Colombo on Tuesday when the fourth session of the new parliament meets the same day, the sources said.