President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's India tour comes to an end

Colombo (News 1st): President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is due to arrive in the island tonight (November 30), following the completion of his two-day official state visit to India. Indian President Ram Nath Kovind said visiting India, as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's first official foreign tour after assuming duties as President, begins a new chapter in the historic relationship between the two countries. A special banquet was held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on behalf of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, last evening (November 29). Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, MPs and Ministers of the Indian Government and members of the Sri Lankan delegation were present at the event. The President was awarded a military guard of honour after he was greeted by his Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind. During the event, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind said, the long term friendship between the two countries, is a strength for the future of South Asia. Addressing the event, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had pledged to further strengthen the relationship between Sri Lanka and India, and develop trade, economic and social ties between the two nations. The President's media division stated both leaders had discussed the necessity of improving the lives of the citizens of both nations. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a photograph to president Gotabaya Rajapaksa when the duo met in Hyderabad. The photograph was of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, during an Army training in India. Former Indian Commander and current Minister V.K. Singh and Nigerian President are also in the picture. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also met a friend who had been training in the same camp during his training in India. It was the Indian Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways V. K. Singh. Around 15 retired army officers also attended the banquet.