Sri Lankan Foreign Minister arrives in Delhi for three-day visit

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G. L. Peiris arrived in Delhi on Sunday for a three-day visit to India amid the ongoing economic crisis in the island nation.

Peiris is on a three-day visit to strengthen bilateral ties including in areas of trade and connectivity. He will meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

"Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Prof. G. L. Peiris arrives in Delhi on an official visit," tweeted External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

Jaishankar met Peiris in September last year in New York and held a comprehensive discussion on the close partnership between the two countries.

Sri Lanka's Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa had travelled to India in December last year. His trip focused on measures concerning the economic crisis faced by the island nation.

Jaishankar had a virtual meeting with Sri Lankan Finance Minister on January 15 and conveyed that India has always stood with Sri Lanka and will continue to extend support.

The USD 400 million SAARC currency swap facility has been extended to Sri Lanka and the ACU settlement of $ 515.2 million has been deferred by two months. Another USD 500 million LOC for the purchase of fuel from India has also been extended.

India delivered 100,000 Rapid Antigen Self Test Kits to Sri Lanka on Friday to assist it in the fight against COVID-19.

( With inputs from ANI )