In pictures — Gotabaya Rajapaksa all smiles at Modi, Kovind’s Rashtrapati Bhavan welcome

PM Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind received Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Friday at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (left) meets PM Narendra Modi (right) | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

New Delhi: Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa arrived in India Thursday on his first overseas tour after his election win this month. He will be India for two days.

Rajapaksa, a member of the country’s powerful Rajapaksa clan, was received by PM Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan Friday.

Speaking to reporters later, Rajapaksa said he would strive to take his country’s bilateral relationship with India to a “very high level”. His expectation from this visit, he added, was very high.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (right) at Rashtrapati Bhavan | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

PM Modi and President Kovind receive Rajapaksa (right) at Rashtrapati Bhavan | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa addresses the media at Rashtrapati Bhavan | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Kovind and PM Modi waiting to receive the Sri Lankan President | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Jaishankar with Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Jaishankar before the ceremonial reception organised for the Sri Lankan President | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

PM Modi on his way to receiving Rajapaksa at Hyderabad House | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Rajapaksa and Modi leave after giving a joint statement at Hyderabad House | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

External Affairs minister S. Jaishankar with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval at Hyderabad House | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint