Basil Rajpaksa

Finance Minister Rajapaksa noted the deepening of people-to-people relations between both countries, including in the cultural sphere, according to the PMO

Amid the intensifying economic crisis in the entire country, Finance Minister of Sri Lanka, Basil Rajapaksa, who is on an official visit to New Delhi, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.  

According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Rajapaksa briefed Modi on initiatives being taken by both countries to increase bilateral economic cooperation and conveyed his thanks for the support extended by India for the Sri Lankan economy.

PM Modi also spoke about the central role that Sri Lanka occupies in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and its S.A.G.A.R (Security and Growth for all in the Region) doctrine. He reiterated that India would continue to stand with the friendly people of Sri Lanka. 

Finance Minister Rajapaksa noted the deepening of people-to-people relations between both countries, including in the cultural sphere, according to the PMO. 

Meanwhile, Modi pointed to the potential for increasing tourist flows, including through the joint promotion of Buddhist and Ramayan tourism circuits.