Colombo/New Delhi, Apr 5 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Saturday accorded a ceremonial welcome by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka at Independence Square, Colombo.

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

The national anthems of both India and Sri Lanka were then played.

Prime Minister Modi 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, Prime Minister Modi inspected the Sri Lanka Armed Forces Guard of Honour.

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

The State Ceremony was attended by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath, Minister of Labour Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Industry Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Fisheries Ramalingam Chandrasekar and Western Province Governor Hanif Yusuf.

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

The MEA spokesperson said in a post on X:

A special welcome at Sri Lanka’s majestic Independence Square!

“PM @narendramodi was welcomed by President @anuradisanayake with a ceremonial reception at the Independence Square in Colombo.

“Bilateral discussions to foster a partnership for a shared future & mutual prosperity of our people, lie ahead.”

PM Modi arrived in Colombo on Friday night.

UNI RN