Sri Lankan Prime Minister reaches India

New Delhi: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in India on a three-day official visit, his first trip abroad after he assumed office last month. It is being seen as an attempt by Sri Lanka to reassure India’s concerns of growing Chinese strategic presence in the island nation. The issue of frequent clashes over fishermen and conclusion of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) are expected to be on the agenda. In Delhi, Mr. Wickremesinghe will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Pranab Mukherjee and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The frequent arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka will



figure prominently as Mr. Wickremesinghe had earlier taken a tough stand on the issue and also created a controversy just before Mr. Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka in March when he said Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters could be shot. Ahead of Mr. Wickremesinghe’s departure to India, Sri Lanka on Sunday released 16 Indian fishermen as a gesture of goodwill. In March, ahead of Mr. Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka — the first such visit in 25 years — 86 Indian fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy were released. Another issue that will figure prominently is the implementation of the 13th amendment which calls for devolution of powers to provinces.