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Modi makes historic visit to Sri Lanka

March 13, 2015

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Sri Lanka for a historic visit, the first such trip by an Indian premier in nearly three decades. He will discuss economic, diplomatic and political ties.

https://p.dw.com/p/1Eq9j
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures with Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena in Colombo March 13, 2015.
Image: Reuters/D. Liyanawatte

In Colombo, Prime Minister Modi was greeted by his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe, with a ceremonial welcome on Friday morning.

During the two-day trip, Modi will meet with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, who has pledged to work on fixing ties between the two south Asian nations.

The trip is an attempt to reestablish Indian influence over Sri Lanka, which had grown closer to China under former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Earlier this week, at the start of his Indian Ocean island tour, Modi was positive the trip would help reaffirm Sri Lanka's importance to India.

"I am sure together we are gong to script a golden chapter in the history of India-Sri Lanka relations," he said.

The landmark visit comes just weeks after Sirisena announced he would travel to India in his first overseas tour since being elected.

Modi will address Sri Lanka's parliament and visit the Tamil-populated northern Jaffna region on Saturday.

The area suffered greatly during an almost 40-year separatist war in which India played a key role.

It's anticipated Modi will advocate for a total demilitarization of the zone, as well as for its Tamil citizens to gain further autonomy.

Following the end of the conflict in 2009, ties with India continued to deteriorate as Rajapaksa drew nearer to Beijing, racking up significant debts and helping fund several Chinese-led construction projects.

Sirisena has since attempted to renegotiate loan terms and suspended a $1.4 billion (1.3 billion euros) urban development project.

Beijing has been a staunch defender of Sri Lanka's human rights record and treatment of Tamil civilians.

This issue led Modi's predecessor, Manmohan Singh, not to attend a summit hosted by Rajapaksa in 2013.

It is also likely Modi will bring up the issue of illegal fishing after 86 Indian fishermen were detained by Sri Lankan authorities two weeks ago and later released.

an/sms (dpa, AFP)