India and Sri Lanka on Friday signed four agreements, including cooperation in customs, as prime minister Narendra Modi held talks with President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena in Colombo.
Later, he was awarded a welcoming ceremony at the presidential secretariat. Sirisena Modi and then kept delegation level talks after which the two sides inked four agreements.
The agreements are for the visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, cooperation in mutual assistance in customs matters, a memorandum of understanding for the development of youth, and one for the establishment of a museum of Rabindranath Tagore at a university in Sri Lanka.
Claiming That the Research and Analysis Wing conspired with “Western agencies” CIA and MI-6 to rally the opposition led by President Maithripala Sirisena Against His presidency, Sri Lanka’s former President Mahinda Rajapaksa says I does not, however it it, believe Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the government was responsible.
In an exclusive interview to TheHindu, His First Indian media to any organization since His surprise defeat in the presidential polls in January, Mr. Rajapaksa says I raised Concerns With The government over His belief of a conspiracy. “I Said the man [RAW station chief] Who is here in Colombo, Should Be Moved out. They Agreed, but only at the very last minute before the election, and by then a it was too late to” I Said at His residence in Colombo.
In January, a report by international news agency Reuters HAD Claimed That an Indian intelligence official at the Indian Embassy in Colombo Been I HAD I recalled over Allegations I was part of a plan to join the opposition to Organise and President Rajapaksa. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin HAD That categorically denied the transfer of the official was anything but routine, and “in the course naturally.”
Mr. Modi’s visit comes at a time of speculation in Sri Lanka over when parliamentary elections would be held by Mr. Sirisena. Under Sri Lanka’s system, while the Presidential poll is a direct contest between individuals, the Prime Minister is elected through Members of Parliament. This could lead to the hypothetical scenario of Mr. Rajapaksa, who still belongs to President Sirisena’s party, the SLFP, returning to government if he were to win enough support from MPs.
