Ranil in India for Modi’s swearing-in ceremony

By Yohan Perera in New Delhi

New Delhi, June 9 (Daily Mirror) - President Ranil Wickremesinghe reached India today to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will begin his third term later this evening. 

President Wickremesinghe was welcomed by Indian Foreign Ministry Secretary P. Kumaran, Indian Ocean Affairs Secretary Punin Agrawal, Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Santhosh Jha and Sri Lankan High Commissioner in India Kshenuka Seneviratne at the Indira Ghandi International Airport in New Delhi. 

A colourful welcome ceremony was held at the airport with traditional Indian dancers giving a dazzling performance. 

President's Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry Secretary Aruni Wijewardene and Director General of Government Information Dinith Chinthaka Karunaratne accompanied the President on his trip to India. 

Around 9,000 foreign leaders including heads of state and other foreign officials have been invited to the ceremony. Heads of states from Nepal, Bagaladesh, Buthan and the Maldives are among those who are expected to participate in the swearing-in ceremony. 

President Wickremesinghe is expected to participate in several bilateral meetings with some heads of state who will be in India for the swearing-in. 

Security has been tightened in New Delhi for this historic event. 

Narendra Modi was elected for a third term by the Indian voting population at the recently concluded Indian election. The election lasted 45 days in India, which is known to be the largest democracy in the globe.