Modi pays tribute to Easter attack victims in Colombo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he had ‘immensely fruitful’ meetings with Sri Lanka's top leadership, including President Maithripala Sirisena, during which the two sides agreed that terrorism is a ‘joint threat’ that needs collective and focussed action, weeks after the island nation witnessed the worst jihadi attack.

Modi, the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lanka after the deadly Easter terror attacks on April 21, was accorded a red carpet welcome. His visit is considered as a sign of India's affirmation of solidarity with Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the attacks, the worst in the history of the island nation that killed 258 people, including 11 Indians.

‘Met President @MaithripalaS, our second meeting in 10 days. President Sirisena and I agreed that terrorism is a joint threat that needs collective and focussed action. Reiterated India's commitment to partner with Sri Lanka for a shared, secure and prosperous future,’ Modi tweeted after his talks with President Sirisena.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that the two leaders discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest. A banquet was hosted in honour of Prime Minister Modi by President Sirisena.

Prime Minister Modi's visit to Colombo comes at a time when China is increasing its forays in South Asia, including in Sri Lanka by investing billions of dollars in infrastructure projects, raising concerns in New Delhi.

Modi also held ‘fruitful discussions’ with his Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe.

‘Assured India's full support to further strengthen bilateral development partnership including through people oriented projects in Sri Lanka,’ Modi said after his meeting with Wickremesinghe.

Modi also held extensive meeting with the Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed the need for close collaboration between the two countries in the fields of counter terrorism, security and economic development.

‘Had an extensive meeting with the Leader of Opposition, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa. We discussed the need for close collaboration between India and Sri Lanka in the fields of counter terrorism, security and economic development,’ Modi tweeted.

A Tamil National Alliance delegation led by R Sampanthan also called on the prime minister and congratulated him on his electoral victory.

Modi termed his visit to Colombo ‘immensely fruitful’.

‘Sri Lanka has a special place in our hearts. I assure my sisters and brothers of Sri Lanka that India will always be there with you and support your nation's progress. Thank you for the memorable welcome and hospitality,’ he said before leaving the island nation.

Earlier, the prime minister's entourage made a detour to St Anthony's church -- one of the sites of the horrific Easter Sunday attacks -- on their way from airport to the Presidential Secretariat.

He paid tributes to the victims of the deadly terror strikes at the church and said the ‘cowardly acts of terror cannot defeat the spirit of Sri Lanka’.

"I am confident Sri Lanka will rise again. Cowardly acts of terror cannot defeat the spirit of Sri Lanka. India stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka," he said.

Nine suicide bombers carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through St Anthony's Church in Colombo, St Sebastian's Church in the western coastal town of Negombo and another church in the eastern town of Batticaloa, and three high-end hotels frequented by tourists in the country's deadliest violence since the devastating civil war ended in 2009.

The Islamic State has claimed the attacks, but the government has blamed local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaath (NTJ) for the bombings.

After paying tributes to the victims of the Easter attacks at the Catholic church, Modi arrived at the President's House where he was accorded a ceremonial reception. Sirisena held an umbrella to provide cover to himself and Modi from rain.

Modi also planted a sapling of an evergreen Ashoka tree at the President's House.

He also addressed the Indian community in Lanka and said that India's image has tremendously transformed in the last five years. He hailed the contributions made by the Indian diaspora to project a good image of India.

Modi also received a special gift, a replica of the Samadhi Buddha Statue, from ‘special friend’ Sirisena.

‘A special gift from a special friend. President @MaithripalaS presented PM @narendramodi the Samadhi Buddha Statue. This is considered to be one of the best sculptures in the Anuradhapura era. The original statue was sculptured between the 4th and 7th centuries AD,’ the Prime Minister's Office tweeted.

‘This replica of the Samadhi Buddha Statue has been hand carved using white teak. This masterpiece has taken almost two years to complete. The meditation pose is known as Dhyana Mudra,’ it added.

Under Modi the bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka have touched a new high, including in the areas of security cooperation, trade, and cultural ties.

Modi visited Sri Lanka twice earlier too - in March 2015 and May 2017.
Under the Modi government, India handed over the first lot of houses built under a $ 350 million project for people, mostly Tamils who live in Sri Lanka's tea plantation areas.