• Wickremesinghe and Modi meet on sidelines of Abe’s funeral in Tokyo   
• Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring was discussed   
• Modi congratulates Wickremesinghe on presidency   

By JAMILA HUSAIN   

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured President Ranil Wickremesinghe of more Indian investments to assist Sri Lanka out of its economic crisis and also queried on the status of the IMF talks, the Daily Mirror learns.   

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on Tuesday evening and held informal discussions on Sri Lanka’s present economic and political crisis.    

Sources who were present on ground said that Modi had inquired about the IMF talks and also discussed Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring with Wickremesinghe.   

After being briefed, Wickremesinghe had requested for India’s support in investments to which Modi had responded positively saying India would increase its investments in Sri Lanka.   
The two leaders travelled to Tokyo to attend Abe’s funeral and the meeting between the duo was expected at a time when India had assisted Sri Lanka since the beginning of the economic instability. During his visit in Tokyo, Wickremesinghe also met Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and held bilateral discussions. Wickremesinghe will travel to the Philippines today to chair the 55th Board of Governors Meeting of the ADB and will also hold discussions with Philippine President Marcos Jr.     

• Wickremesinghe will travel to the Philippines today to chair the 55th Board of Governors Meeting of the ADB and will also hold discussions with Philippine President Marcos Jr.
• The President also met Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and held bilateral discussions