PM Modi accorded grand ceremonial welcome at Colombo's Independence Square

Colombo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Saturday accorded a grand ceremonial welcome at the historic Independence Square in the heart of the Sri Lankan capital, in perhaps the first such honour given to a foreign leader. The prime minister was received at the Square by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Modi landed in Colombo last evening after concluding his trip to Bangkok where he attended a summit of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation).

"PM @narendramodiwas welcomed by President @anuradisanayake with a ceremonial reception at the Independence Square in Colombo," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on 'X'. "Bilateral discussions to foster a partnership for a shared future & mutual prosperity of our people, lie ahead," he said. Officials said it was the first time a foreign leader was accorded such a welcome at the Independence Square.

Modi is now holding delegation-level



talks with President Dissanayake. The two sides are expected to come out with around 10 ambitious outcomes, including a defence cooperation agreement and frameworks for deeper engagement in the energy sector. If signed, the MoU on defence cooperation is set to signal a major upward trajectory in India-Sri Lanka defence, leaving behind the bitter chapter relating to India pulling out the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) from the island nation around 35 years ago.

The prime minister's visit to Sri Lanka comes at a time when the island nation is showing signs of recovery from the economic stress. The country was reeling under a massive economic crisis three years back and India extended financial assistance worth USD 4.5 billion. After the talks between Modi and Dissanayake, two documents facilitating India's assistance to Sri Lanka on debt restructuring and another one on currency swap are likely to be made public.