MOHAMMED RASOOLDEEN
COLOMBO – The Sri Lankan delegation led by Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih was accorded a cordial welcome by India Foreign Minister Dr.S Jaishankar in New Delhi on Monday,May 26.
The Lanka. group comprises 24 delegates, including 20 Sri Lankan Members of Parliament and four senior parliamentary officials, slated to attend a Capacity-Building Program at the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) in New Delhi.
Following a meeting with the delegation , Foreign Minister Dr.S.Jaishankar said : “ Had a warm interaction with parliamentary colleagues from Sri Lanka visiting India for the PRIDE Capacity Building Program.
Appreciate their condemnation of terrorism and expressions of sympathy on the Pahalgam attack.
Discussed our Neighbourhood First policy, underpinned by strong people to people ties.
Reiterated our commitment to Sri Lanka’s development and progress.”
The week-long program, scheduled from May 26 to 30, will focus on legislative and budgetary best practices, parliamentary committee systems, and governance frameworks. Participants will also explore India’s cultural heritage and engage in field visits showcasing developments in digital technology, energy, and urban mobility.
This initiative follows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s April 2025 visit to Sri Lanka, during which he announced 700 annual training slots for Sri Lankan professionals. These are in addition to 1,500 slots designated for civil servant training under an MoU signed between India’s National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) and Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) in December 2024.
