New Delhi, April 19 (NationPress) Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan met with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on Sunday, where they engaged in discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral and cultural relations between the two countries.

During their meeting, Radhakrishnan emphasized India’s dedication to the Neighbourhood Policy and the importance of bolstering collaboration between India and Sri Lanka for the mutual benefit of their populations.

According to a post on X by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, "Vice President Shri. C.P. Radhakrishnan engaged with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Sri Lanka at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today. They conducted fruitful discussions on further enhancing the multifaceted ties between India and Sri Lanka, which are grounded in shared history and cultural values."

"Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan reiterated India’s commitment to the Neighbourhood First Policy and the pursuit of increased cooperation for the benefit of both nations. The talks also encompassed various initiatives, including the Indian Housing Project and projects under the USD 450 million package aimed at areas affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka," he noted.

Earlier that day, the Vice President arrived in Colombo for a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka.

This visit highlights the increasing momentum in diplomatic interactions between the two neighboring countries.

Upon his arrival in the Lankan capital, the Vice President received a warm welcome featuring a traditional Kandyan dance performance.

This trip is significant as it marks the first bilateral official visit by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka, focusing on strengthening the civilizational and people-to-people bonds between the two nations.

VP Radhakrishnan is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. His itinerary also includes discussions with leaders of the Indian-origin Tamil community and Tamil representatives from the Northern and Eastern regions of the island.

Additionally, the Vice President will address members of the Indian diaspora at a community event in Colombo, where he will virtually hand over homes to beneficiaries from Tamil communities constructed under the third phase of the Indian Housing Project. This phase will bring the total number of houses built for Tamil communities to 50,000, with an additional 10,000 homes currently under development in the fourth phase.

On Monday, VP Radhakrishnan will head to Nuwara Eliya to visit project sites and interact with the local Tamil community. The Indian-origin Tamil population in Sri Lanka is approximately 1.6 million, making up about 7 percent of the total population.

This visit follows a series of high-profile exchanges between the two nations, including President Dissanayake's visit to India in February and Prime Minister Amarasuriya's trip scheduled for October 2025. It aims to further deepen the millennia-old civilizational and people-to-people connections shared by India and Sri Lanka.