President takes wing to India

President Maithripala Sirisena will fly to India this evening making his first State visit overseas since his election to office on January 8.

He was invited for a State visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a telephone exchange, as the first State leader to congratulate the newly elected President. The President will be hosted to a ceremonial reception at 10.00 am tomorrow at the Forecourt, Rashtrapati Bhawan.

A bilateral meting between the two leaders will take place at Hyderabad House around noon tomorrow followed by a State reception, delegation level discussions and lunch, the Indian External Affairs Ministry said.

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee will host President Sirisena to dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhawan the same evening. The President will visit Buddha Gaya and Thirupati the next day.

His itinerary also includes a wreath-laying ceremony at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi tomorrow morning.

The President will return to Sri Lanka on Wednesday morning.

MF