The official welcome ceremony for visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been held at the Independence Square, Colombo today (April 05).

The Indian PM was ceremoniously escorted to Independence Square with a Police Mounted Guard of honour, following which he was warmly welcomed by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayake.

The official welcome ceremony commenced following the playing of the national anthems of both India and Sri Lanka.

The Prime Minister was received with full state honours, including a ceremonial guard of honour and gun salute, in recognition of his state visit to the country. Subsequently, the Indian Prime Minister inspected the Sri Lanka Armed Forces Guard of Honour.

Following the exchange of state courtesies between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Prime Minister Modi, members of the Sri Lankan and Indian delegations were formally introduced.

The State Ceremony was attended by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ramalingam Chandrasekar and Western Province Governor Hanif Yusuf.

On the Indian side, the ceremony was graced by Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka His Excellency Santosh Jha, along with a delegation of senior officials from both nations.

(Video : Rupavahini)