Jaishankar has embarked on a visit to Maldives and Lanka from March 26-30

The Ministry said EAM Jaishankar will be visiting Maldives at the invitation of Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and Colombo at the invitation of Sri Lankan FM Prof G L Peiris, the MEA said.

During his visit to Addu city in Maldives on March 26-27, EAM Jaishankar will call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and hold discussions with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid, the Ministry said.

As per the Ministry, the EAM’s visit will see the signing of several agreements related to the bilateral development cooperation, inauguration/handing-over and launch of a number of key India-supported projects that will contribute to the socio-economic development of the Maldives and enhance its security.

In Sri Lanka, the EAM’s trip to Sri Lanka (28-30 March) follows the visits to India by Minister of Finance of Sri Lanka, Basil Rajapaksa in December 2021 and earlier this month and that of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, Prof. G.L.Peiris in February 2022.

The bilateral meetings and interactions which EAM Jaishankar will have in Sri Lanka highlight the priority that the island country occupies for India, the MEA maintained.

In Sri Lanka, the EAM will also participate in the BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting on March 29, 2022 in Colombo, the MEA added.

Both Maldives and Sri Lanka are India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and occupy a special place in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ and Neighbourhood First.

EAM Jaishankar visit is testimony to the importance that India attaches to its close and friendly relations with the Maldives and Sri Lanka, the MEA said