<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday held wide-ranging talks with visiting Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe largely focusing on boosting overall economic and strategic cooperation.</p>.<p>Wickremesinghe arrived in Delhi on Thursday on a two-day visit which is the first tour of India by a senior Sri Lankan leader since the island nation was hit by an unprecedented economic crisis last year.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-us-agree-to-work-towards-broader-deeper-bilateral-drug-policy-framework-1239142.html">India, US agree to work towards broader, deeper bilateral Drug Policy Framework</a></strong></p>.<p>India extended financial assistance worth around $4 billion to Sri Lanka, including lines of credit for purchases of food and fuel last year when it was hit by the economic crisis.</p>.<p>New Delhi also provided guarantees to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help the country secure a $2.9 billion bailout package.</p>.<p>"An opportunity to review and lend further momentum to the long-standing India-Sri Lanka ties as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations this year," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Twitter as the two leaders began talks.</p>.<blockquote><p>PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> warmly welcomes President <a href="https://twitter.com/RW_UNP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RW_UNP</a> of Sri Lanka at the Hyderabad House ahead of the bilateral talks.<br /><br />An opportunity to review and lend further momentum to the long-standing 🇮🇳-🇱🇰 ties, as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations this year. <a href="https://t.co/Ee6kikEpjZ">pic.twitter.com/Ee6kikEpjZ</a></p>— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1682267009806110721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2023</a></blockquote>.<p>Ahead of the high-level talks between the two top leaders, NSA Ajit Doval called on Wickremesinghe and is understood to have discussed security cooperation between the two countries.</p>.<p>On Thursday evening, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on the visiting leader and discussed various bilateral issues.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday held wide-ranging talks with visiting Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe largely focusing on boosting overall economic and strategic cooperation.</p>.<p>Wickremesinghe arrived in Delhi on Thursday on a two-day visit which is the first tour of India by a senior Sri Lankan leader since the island nation was hit by an unprecedented economic crisis last year.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-us-agree-to-work-towards-broader-deeper-bilateral-drug-policy-framework-1239142.html">India, US agree to work towards broader, deeper bilateral Drug Policy Framework</a></strong></p>.<p>India extended financial assistance worth around $4 billion to Sri Lanka, including lines of credit for purchases of food and fuel last year when it was hit by the economic crisis.</p>.<p>New Delhi also provided guarantees to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help the country secure a $2.9 billion bailout package.</p>.<p>"An opportunity to review and lend further momentum to the long-standing India-Sri Lanka ties as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations this year," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Twitter as the two leaders began talks.</p>.<blockquote><p>PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> warmly welcomes President <a href="https://twitter.com/RW_UNP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RW_UNP</a> of Sri Lanka at the Hyderabad House ahead of the bilateral talks.<br /><br />An opportunity to review and lend further momentum to the long-standing 🇮🇳-🇱🇰 ties, as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations this year. <a href="https://t.co/Ee6kikEpjZ">pic.twitter.com/Ee6kikEpjZ</a></p>— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1682267009806110721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2023</a></blockquote>.<p>Ahead of the high-level talks between the two top leaders, NSA Ajit Doval called on Wickremesinghe and is understood to have discussed security cooperation between the two countries.</p>.<p>On Thursday evening, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on the visiting leader and discussed various bilateral issues.</p>