The Sri Lankan government has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the BIMSTEC summit in Colombo next month.
Speaking during a media briefing in Colombo Foreign Minister Professor GL Peiris said the Heads of State of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Thailand were also invited to attend the summit on the 31st of March.
He said Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa visited India in December and held discussions with his Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman and Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar.
He added as a result of the discussions India provided USD 2.4 billion to Sri Lanka.
Minister Peiris stated Minister Basil Rajapaksa will have to visit India once again in two weeks, in order to sign the relevant agreements and obtain the funds promptly.
Minister GL Peiris added he will also engage in an official visit to India, on the invitation of his Indian counterpart.
The Minister noted Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar also accepted an invitation to visit Sri Lanka, and is expected to visit from 18th-20th of March.
Meanwhile Minister Peiris stated the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council is due to commence on the 28th of February adding a written report regarding Sri Lanka will be presented at the session by UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet.
The Minister added the report will be discussed on the 3rd of March.
Minister Peiris stated the UN Human Rights Commissioner promised to provide a copy of the report to the Foreign Ministry today.
He noted Sri Lanka must present a response within five days, adding the relevant responses will be compiled carefully and sent to Geneva by the 19th of February.
The Foreign Minister stressed Sri Lanka is attending the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council with the hope that justice will be served and that a majority of the international community will accept Sri Lanka’s stance.
