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PM Narendra Modi Schedule To Visit Maldives, Sri Lanka On June 8

Mumbai: Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Maldives and Sri Lanka on June 8 and 9, his first visit after assuming office in his second term. Prime Minister Modi will also address the Parliament of Maldives on June 8, here on Thursday,

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting the Maldives and Sri Lanka on June 8 and 9. Prime Minister Modi will also address the Maldivian Parliament on 8th June,” said Gokhale.

“The Prime Minister will make a short and packed tour for Sri Lanka on June 9. Following a tragic incident of 21 April, Sri Lanka’s first visit to Sri Lanka after a number of bomb blasts in Sri Lanka.” It is a very special gesture and it is a very clear message of solidarity that the people and the people of India are standing firmly with Sri Lanka’s people and the Government in this tragic time. “

Speaking about Modi’s visit to the Maldives, Gokhale said, “This is the first visit of our Prime Minister to the Maldives since 2011 the last visit was by former prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for SAARC bilateral summit. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee went to the Maldives in 2002. We have Prime Minister visiting the Maldives after more than eight years.”

“The Prime Minister’s visit, of course, continues the tradition of top-level regular exchanges and I want to remember that after the election of the present government in the Maldives, we got the visit of Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid in November 2018.” President Solih in December 2018, Defense Minister Marija Didi in January 2019 and former Foreign Minister in March 2019 and now PM’s forthcoming trip to the Maldives, “he said.

Meanwhile, he also provided detailed information about PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the Maldives. He said, “During the last eight months, we had made extensive exchanges at the highest level and ministerial level. After the official ceremony, there will be a meeting with President Solih and Vice President Nasim, President Nasheed and some leaders.”

He said that the Prime Minister is invited to address the Majlish on June 8. Overall, significant progress has been made in respect of bilateral relations as President Solih was elected in November 2018.

Speaking about the bilateral agreements between India and Maldives he said,”We have signed a visa facility agreement, which is being implemented in March, which is important because it addresses the issues which the government of Maldives specifically for the students and for medical treatment and from our perspective For the coming people, we have been given many benefits to Indian businessmen traveling to the Maldives in particular.

Informing about the bilateral agreements between India and the Maldives Gokhale said, “We have signed a Visa facilitation agreement which is coming to force in March which is important because it addresses the number of issues the government of Maldives had in terms of Visas particularly for students and for those who come for medical treatment and from our perspective it has given us number of benefits particularly for Indian businessmen traveling to the Maldives.”

“We promised to give the budgetary support of $ 200 million to the Maldives government, 50 million dollars as cash aid for the budget and the rest will be in terms of the treasury bills, The Treasury Bill is a continuation of the process, “he added.

(With ANI Inputs)

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