Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's new President, to visit India on Nov 29: S Jaishankar

Newly-elected Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will travel to India on vember 29 at invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday. Jaishankar me anuncement after meeting Rajapaksa, who was sworn in as country's new President on Monday. Jaishankar took to Twitter to confirm development, after meeting which came hours after President Rajapaksa assumed office on Tuesday.

'Confident that under his leership, India-Sri Lanka would reach greater heights'

PM Modi telephoned Gotabaya Rajapaksa to congratulate him

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday telephoned Sri Lanka's n-President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa to congratulate him on his electoral win and invited him to visit India. Rajapaksa stormed to victory in Sri Lanka's presidential elections, results of which came on Sunday. Lankan leer thanked Prime Minister for his good wishes and expressed his reiness to work with India very closely to ensure development and security, Prime Minister's Office said in a series of tweets.

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Modi extended an invitation to Rajapaksa to visit India at his earliest convenience. " invitation was accepted," PMO said. Earlier in day, Modi took to Twitter to congratulate Sri Lankan leer, saying he looks forward to furr deepen relations between two nations.

Rajapaksa is credited with helping end island nation's long civil war against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during his tenure as defence secretary. In 2006, he survived an assassination attempt carried out by LTTE with mir injuries.

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(With PTI inputs)