News
Mahinda-Modi summit to be held on Saturday
BY S VENKAT NARAYAN Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, September 21: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have a virtual summit with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday (September 26). This will be his first with any leader in the neighbourhood.
With this, India’s immediate neighbourhood is coming into focus again.
The summit could be right on the heels of Modi’s address to the UN General Assembly, which will be delivered virtually this year, during the UN’s high-level segment which begins this week.
At month-end, External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is expected to hold a meeting of the India-Bangladesh consultative mechanism to take forward the relationship, and a roadmap for two years, with a political leadership pushing the agenda.
Also on the cards are India-Myanmar foreign office consultations. Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla was supposed to travel to Yangon with Army Chief General Naravane, which had to be postponed due to the China crisis. That may be resumed.
India reached out to the Afghan government, standing by it as the intra-Afghan talks began last week. Sources said a series of high-level visits from Afghanistan is expected in the coming days.
Interestingly, there is no outreach planned with Nepal. The last time Nepal and India interacted at a high level was when Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli called Modi on Independence Day.
On Sunday, the Maldives received $250 million in budgetary support from India after a request by the Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to Modi for financial assistance to overcome the difficult economic situation as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Given on favourable and transparent terms, the assistance is without conditions, according to an official readout. The Maldives Government can use it for whatever they deem important.
A meeting between UN Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche and Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi was held on Monday (07) morning at the Presidential Secretariat.
Particular attention was given to the Government’s programme to resettle people who lost their homes due to Cyclone Ditwah.
The Government’s programme to address potential disasters that may arise in the future amid El Nino conditions was also discussed. The Chief of Staff to the President briefed the UN Resident Coordinator on the Government’s preparedness and plans to address such challenges.
Mr Franche stated that the United Nations was prepared to provide the necessary assistance to the Government to support the successful implementation of these programmes.
Partnerships and Development Finance Specialist at the United Nations Azam Bakeer Markar and UN Sri Lanka Humanitarian and Resilience Officer Wagisha Perera also participated in the discussion.
[President’s Media Division]
[ Cricbuzz]
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Udaygiri arrived at the Port of Colombo on an official visit today, 8 September 2026, where it was received by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with time-
honoured naval traditions.
INS Udaygiri is a 149.02m long Frigate, Commanded by Captain Vikas Sood. Meanwhile, the Commanding Officer of the visiting ship is scheduled to call on Commander Western Naval
Area, Rear Admiral Harsha De Silva at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
Captain Sood served as the Defence Adviser at the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka from July 2020 to October 2023.
During their stay in the island, the crew of INS Udaygiri will participate in several goodwill events organized by the Sri Lanka Navy to enhance camaraderie between the two forces.
The visiting personnel are also scheduled to visit prominent tourist and cultural locations across the island.
Additionally, Sri Lanka Navy personnel are expected to visit the ship for capability observation and knowledge sharing, and will conduct onboard training during its stay.
UN Delegation Meets Chief of Staff to the President
Afghanistan to host Zimbabwe, Bangladesh in ODI tri-series
Sandhu’s 6 for 7 seals Pakistan’s semi-final spot
INS Udaygiri makes port call in Colombo
Showers in the Uva, Central and Eastern provinces and in Polonnaruwa district
22A: Exclusion of 8 petitions questioned, action filed against SC Registrar, others
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News6 days agoDenied of promotion to SC despite vacancies, justice Gurusinghe retires
-
Latest News6 days agoGrade 5 scholarship exam results released
-
News6 days ago22A: SC urged to suspend hearing, appoint full bench
-
Midweek Review7 days agoThe local and global dynamics of Sri Lanka’s 22nd Amendment
-
News4 days agoNamal remanded until Sept. 18 over Airbus deal investigation
-
Latest News3 days agoTharanga creates history with Diamond League crown in Brussels
-
News6 days agoGovt. seeks NATO assistance
-
News7 days ago40 professional organisations and TU oppose proposed 22A