India's Jaishankar Meets Sri Lanka Leaders

During his visit to Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with key leaders including President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, emphasizing India's commitment to supporting Sri Lanka's economic recovery and strengthening bilateral ties. Jaishankar conveyed greetings from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed cooperation in areas such as tourism, energy, investment, and national security. He assured continued support for Sri Lanka's economic rebuilding amidst ongoing negotiations with the IMF for a bailout package following the country's sovereign default in 2022. The visit marks Jaishankar as the first foreign dignitary to engage with the new NPP government since its formation on September 23. The discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration in regional development and mutual interests. Additionally, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Transport announced the nearing completion of the Port Access Elevated Highway, a significant infrastructure project expected to ease traffic congestion in Colombo.