look news india
Colombo, August 31 (HS). National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Friday held extensive political consultations with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and other leaders, including several contenders for the presidential election. Doval's visit to Sri Lanka is important in many ways as it comes before the presidential election to be held on September 21.
However, Ajit Doval has reached Sri Lanka to attend the 'Colombo Security Conclave' (CSC). During this, Doval met Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene, main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and Marxist JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. It is known that all except Gunawardene are presidential candidates. Sri Lanka's President's Media Division (PMD) said that Doval met Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat this morning. They discussed the ongoing economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and India.
The PMD said that Senior Advisor to the President on National Security Sagala Ratnayake also attended the meeting. During his meeting with Prime Minister Gunawardene on Thursday night at the Prime Minister's Office, Doval said that there is immense potential for India and Sri Lanka to further strengthen economic cooperation.
“Doval expressed India's desire to further expand cooperation with Sri Lanka and sought the Prime Minister's views on priority areas,” news portal Adaderana reported.
Mano Ganesan, leader of a political party of Indian-origin Tamils, said, “We had an important discussion and discussed the security of both India and Sri Lanka. He said that India will work closely with any elected government in Sri Lanka.” The news portal said that Doval also met National People's Power (NPP) leader and presidential candidate Dissanayake earlier in the day and SJB presidential candidate and main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa on Thursday night.