Sri Lanka: PM Modi pays tributes to Easter attack victims
PM Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday morning, has paid tributes to the victims of the Easter Sunday bombings in Colombo that took place in April this year. Notably, the Indian Prime Minister is the first foreign leader to visit the island nation after the horrific Easter Sunday blasts which claimed the lives of more than 250 people. Here's more.
Started the Sri Lanka visit by paying my respect at one of the sites of the horrific Easter Sunday Attack, St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 9, 2019
My heart goes out to the families of the victims and the injured. pic.twitter.com/RTdmNGcDyg
"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," PM Modi tweeted after paying tributes to the Easter attack victims.
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
PM Modi was received by his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe at Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport on Sunday morning. The Indian Prime Minister, during his day-long visit, would hold talks with Sri Lankan Maithripala Sirisena, PM Wickremesinghe, and the Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa. A delegation of The Tamil National Alliance, the country's major Tamil party, is also expected to meet PM Modi.
"Happy to be back in Sri Lanka, my third visit to this beautiful island in four years," PM Modi tweeted after arriving in the island nation. "Share the warmth shown by the people of SL in equal measure. India never forgets her friends when they are in need. Deeply touched by the ceremonial welcome," he added.
PM Modi arrived in Sri Lanka from the Maldives on Sunday. During his Maldives visit, he held talks with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Saturday. Six agreements were signed between India and the Maldives to boost bilateral cooperation in areas like defense and maritime security. PM Modi was also conferred with "The Most Honourable Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen" by Solih.
