In Pictures: Modi, Jaishankar greet Sri Lanka PM Mahinda Rajapaksa at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Sri Lanka PM Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in India Friday for a four-day visit, his first overseas trip since his appointment in November.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa (left) with PM Narendra Modi (right) at Rashtrapati Bhavan. | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi held talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa Saturday, a day after the latter touched down in Delhi for a four-day visit. The trip to India is Rajapaksa’s first overseas visit since he was sworn in as the Prime Minister last year.

Rajapaksa was given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. This was followed by wide-ranging talks with PM Narendra Modi where subjects discussed included the Tamil issue.

Modi said he was confident that Colombo will realise the Tamil people’s expectations of equality, justice, peace and respect within a united Sri Lanka.

Rajapaksa’s visit also assumed significance as his tenure as Sri Lanka’s president from 2005 to 2016 saw expansion of China’s footprints in the Indian Ocean island nation, triggering concerns in India.

“Stability, security and prosperity in Sri Lanka is in India’s interest, but also in the interest of the entire Indian Ocean Region,” Modi said in his media statement.

In the coming days, Rajapaksa is scheduled to travel to Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and Tirupati.

Here are some glimpses from his interactions with PM Modi Saturday.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal (left) with S. Jaishankar (right) at Rashtrapati Bhavan ahead of Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa’s ceremonial welcome. | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

S. Jaishankar with Sri Lankan MP Douglas Devananda at Rashtrapati Bhavan. | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar receives Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan. | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

PM Modi waits for Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Rajapaksa inspects the Guard of Honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan. | Photo: Praveen Jain| ThePrint

Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa greets guests during his ceremonial welcome. | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Mahinda Rajapaksa with Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, where the two held talks Saturday. | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint