Tue Nov 19 15:17:41 UTC 2024: ## Sri Lanka’s President to Visit India in December, Following Election Victory
**Colombo, November 19, 2024** – Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will make his first state visit abroad to India in mid-December, following his party’s landslide victory in the November 14 general elections. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath announced the visit, stating that the exact date is still being finalized in coordination with New Delhi.
The visit follows an invitation extended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October, delivered by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. President Dissanayake’s interim government had previously indicated that high-level visits would be considered after the elections, which saw the National People’s Power secure a significant two-thirds majority in parliament.
Meanwhile, China’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, welcomed the upcoming India visit, highlighting the benefits of strong India-Sri Lanka relations for both countries. Ambassador Zhenhong also confirmed that China has extended an invitation to President Dissanayake to visit Beijing at his convenience.
First Piper 