Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unscheduled visit to the St Anthony's church to pay tributes to the victims of the horrific Easter Sunday terrorist attack that killed 258 people, including 11 Indians.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday pledged India's solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka as he made an unscheduled visit to the St Anthony's church, one of the sites of the horrific Easter Sunday attacks, and paid tributes to the victims of the deadly terror strikes that killed 258 people, including 11 Indians.
Prime Minister Modi's entourage made a detour to the Catholic church in Colombo on their way to the Presidential Secretariat for official engagements.
"I am confident Sri Lanka will rise again. Cowardly acts of terror cannot defeat the spirit of Sri Lanka. India stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka," said Modi, the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lanka after the Easter attacks on April 21.
"My heart goes out to the families of the victims and the injured," Modi added.
1. PM Modi offers prayers in homage to the memory of the victims of the deadly terrorist attack in Srilanka
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I am confident Sri Lanka will rise again.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 9, 2019
Cowardly acts of terror cannot defeat the spirit of Sri Lanka.
India stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka pic.twitter.com/n8PA8pQnoJ
First stop - St. Anthony's church
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) June 9, 2019
PM @narendramodi visits St Anthony's Church in #Colombo as a mark of respect for those killed in the Easter terrorist attacks. India is with Sri Lanka on the fight against terrorism. pic.twitter.com/Q4tipMUSfA
With inputs from PTI and ANI
2. Modi visited Srilanka to hold bilateral talks thus concluding his 2-Nation visit
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Modi was accorded a ceremonial reception at the President's House. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena held an umbrella to provide cover to himself and Prime Minister Modi from rain.
"Together with you - come rain or shine. Some glimpses of the ceremonial welcome extended to PM @narendramodi at the President's Office in #Colombo. With gracious host Sri Lankan President @MaithripalaS," Kumar tweeted along with the pictures of the two leaders.
Modi also planted a sapling of the Ashoka tree at the Presidential Secretariat.
Thereafter Prime Minister Modi and President Sirisena held bilateral talks.
Modi arrived in Colombo from Maldives where he held wide-ranging talks with Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Saturday.
His visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka demonstrates the priority that India attaches to the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, official sources said.
Under Prime Minister Modi the bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka have touched a new high, be it in security co-operation, trade or cultural ties.
Thank you @narendramodi, for your brief, but highly productive visit to our country today, thus proving you are a true friend of ours. I highly appreciate and value your kind gesture, support and cooperation extended to Sri Lanka. pic.twitter.com/XiqoEMj4C4
— Maithripala Sirisena (@MaithripalaS) June 9, 2019
President Sirisena visited India last month to attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony.
3. PM Modi concludes his first foreign visit
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday left for home after concluding his first foreign visit following his re-election during which he travelled to Sri Lanka and Maldives and held talks with the top leadership of the two countries.
Modi left for home after an "immensely fruitful" day-long visit to Sri Lanka where he held talks with top Lankan officials and discussed ways to strengthen the bilateral ties with the island nation, reflecting the importance India attaches to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy.
"I had a short but immensely fruitful Sri Lanka visit. Sri Lanka has a special place in our hearts. I assure my sisters and brothers of Sri Lanka that India will always be there with you and support your nation's progress. Thank you for the memorable welcome and hospitality," Modi tweeted.
During his Lanka visit, Prime Minister Modi visited a Catholic church bombed during the Easter suicide attacks and paid tributes to the victims of the Easter terror blasts.
He held talks with President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa.
He also interacted with the the Indian diaspora at India House in Colombo and thanked the community for coming to meet here.
"Thank you @narendramodi, for your brief, but highly productive visit to our country today, thus proving you are a true friend of ours. I highly appreciate and value your kind gesture, support and cooperation extended to Sri Lanka," President Sirisena tweeted.
Modi arrived in Colombo from Maldives where he held wide-ranging talks with Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Saturday.
During Modi's visit, India and Maldives signed six agreements to strengthen bilateral cooperation in key areas like defence and maritime security. A coastal surveillance radar system and a composite training centre for the Maldives defence forces were jointly inaugurated by Modi and Solih.
Prime Minister Modi was conferred with the Maldives' highest honour "Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen" during his visit. He also addressed the Maldivian Parliament, the Majlis, an indication of India's important position in the neighbourhood.
Giving a push to enhance connectivity, India and Maldives also agreed to start a ferry service from Kochi in Kerala to the Maldives.
His visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka demonstrates the priority that India attaches to the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, the sources said.
