President Anura Kumara Meets Indian Vice President
21-Apr-2026.
A bilateral discussion was held on 19 April at the Presidential Secretariat between Indian Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, who is on a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka, and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Upon the Indian Vice President’s arrival at the Presidential Secretariat, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake extended a warm welcome and conveyed his congratulations to Mr. C.P. Radhakrishnan on assuming office as Vice President of India.
Stating that this was his first official visit to Sri Lanka, the Indian Vice President expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and hospitality accorded to him.
Subsequently, bilateral talks between the two leaders commenced, during which extensive discussions were held on strengthening the longstanding friendship and cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.
The Indian Vice President noted that India expects to further enhance cooperation between the two countries in sectors such as economy, education, healthcare, tourism, investment and trade, with particular emphasis on energy security and port development.
The discussions also covered India-supported housing projects currently being implemented in Sri Lanka, as well as projects being carried out under the USD 450 million financial assistance package provided for areas affected by the Dithwa cyclone.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pointed out that, in addition to emergency assistance, India’s economic and social cooperation with Sri Lanka across all sectors has expanded significantly in line with the understandings reached during his recent official visit to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka. He further stated that several programmes are currently being implemented accordingly, and expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation would strengthen further in the future.
The President also commended India’s valuable support during the Dithwa cyclone and expressed appreciation for the allocation of funds for Sri Lanka in the Indian national budget.
Similarly, he gratefully recalled India’s decision to dispatch 38,000 metric tonnes of fuel to Sri Lanka during the energy crisis triggered by the conflict situation in the Middle East.
Recalling India’s notable technological achievements, President Dissanayake stated that Sri Lanka looks forward to working closely with India in those fields, particularly in human resource development and programmes aimed at digitalising the public sector.
Special attention was also paid to the fisheries-related issues, and discussions were held on the need for both parties to work together towards a long-term and sustainable solution.
Representing the Indian delegation were Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Members of Parliament Dr. K. Lakshman and Dr. Medha Vishram Kulkarni, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, among others.
Representing the Sri Lankan Government were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, Minister of Industries and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Anil Jayantha Fernando, Presidential Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President (Finance and Economic Affairs) and Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy G.M.R.D. Aponsu, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, Additional Secretary M.R.K. Lenagala, and several other officials.
