INDIAN PM SHARES LIGHTER MOMENT WITH SL COUNTERPART

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe enjoyed a lighter moment during a dinner hosted by the Indian Leader at Hyderabad House, a building in New Delhi, India, used by the Government of India for banquets and meetings for visiting foreign dignitaries, on Saturday.

According to sources close to Mr Wickremesinghe, Mr Modi had invited Mr Wickremesinghe to listen to a song on his tablet phone. The song chosen by Mr. Modi was one sung by Sri Lankan Artistes Bathiya, Santhush, Umariya Sinhawansa, Asanka Dananjaya and Rasika Pradeep. It was performed at a show held to mark the 150th anniversary of Late Mahathma Gandhi in Colombo recently.

Mr Modi had thanked Sri Lanka for paying a musical tribute to the Late Indian Leader. In reply Mr. Wickremesinghe had said that the Late Mahatma was a role model for all Sri Lankans during their freedom struggle.

This exchange of friendly banter comes in

FLASHBACK

Oct. 20, 2018: Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held talks with the Indian

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on a range of issues related to bilateral ties, including the progress of India assisted development projects in Sri Lanka.

Aug. 28, 2018: India has agreed to increase its investment in the development oriented projects in Sri Lanka.

Dec. 21, 2017: India and Sri Lanka managed to keep their relationship warm in 2017 with high-level exchanges and signing of pacts including its acquisition of the strategic port of Hambantota. Source: News reports

the wake of reports that the Indian Premier had expressed his displeasure over the delay in implementing Indian funded projects in Sri Lanka.