Indian President and Prime Minister accept Sri Lanka President’s invitations to visit Sri Lanka

Both Sri Lankan and Indian leaders expressed their satisfaction at the outcome of the State Visit by the President of Sri Lanka to India further strengthening the cordial relations between the two countries.
A joint declaration issued by the two countries said the President of Sri Lanka invited the President and the Prime Minister of India to pay early visits to Sri Lanka. The invitations were accepted with appreciation, it said.
Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, congratulated the President on his recent electoral victories and conveyed that the recent elections, together with the cessation of hostilities last May, provided a historic opportunity for the country’s leaders to address all outstanding issues in a spirit of understanding and mutual accommodation and to work towards genuine national reconciliation.
During the meeting with Indian leaders, President Rajapaksa expressed appreciation for India’s substantial and generous assistance including through a grant of Indian Rupees 500 crore for the humanitarian relief, rehabilitation, and resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
With regard to the task of reconstruction in northern Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister of India reiterated India’s support for various infrastructure projects.