Colombo, April 19 (NationPress) - Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan engaged in a meeting with Sajith Premadasa, the Leader of the Opposition in Sri Lanka, on Sunday, focusing on enhancing bilateral relations.

"During Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan's ongoing visit to Sri Lanka, Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa met with him in Colombo. The two leaders explored avenues to further solidify India-Sri Lanka relations," stated Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a post on X.

Premadasa highlighted that their discussions centered on boosting trade, strengthening economic partnerships, and identifying practical opportunities that could mutually benefit both nations.

"I warmly welcomed Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan to Sri Lanka for his inaugural bilateral visit. Our constructive dialogue focused on expanding trade, enhancing economic cooperation, and unlocking practical opportunities for both nations. Sri Lanka and India are not merely neighbors; we are genuine partners with a shared history, common challenges, and a united future. It is imperative that we advance with greater ambition, intent, and trust to maximize the benefits of this partnership for all citizens," Premadasa shared on X.

Vice President Radhakrishnan's two-day official visit to Sri Lanka highlights the growing diplomatic engagement between the two neighboring countries.

Earlier in the day, the Vice President met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.

During his discussion with President Dissanayake, Vice President Radhakrishnan reaffirmed India's commitment to its Neighbourhood policy and emphasized strengthening cooperation for the benefit of both nations.

"Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today. They engaged in fruitful discussions aimed at further enhancing the multifaceted India-Sri Lanka ties, which are deeply rooted in shared history and cultural values," Jaiswal noted on X.

In his meeting with Prime Minister Amarasuriya, the leaders reflected on their shared civilizational heritage and discussed the necessity of further fortifying their bilateral ties, particularly in terms of people-to-people connections," he added.

Upon arriving in Sri Lanka on Sunday, the Vice President received a warm welcome in Colombo, which included a traditional Kandyan dance performance.

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

His agenda also included interactions with leaders of the Indian-origin Tamil community as well as Tamil representatives from the Northern and Eastern regions of the island.

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 developed under the third phase of the Indian Housing Project. This initiative aims to construct 50,000 houses for Tamil communities, with an additional 10,000 homes currently underway in the fourth phase.

On Monday, VP Radhakrishnan will visit Nuwara Eliya to inspect project sites and engage with the local Tamil community. Notably, Indian-origin Tamilians constitute a significant portion of Sri Lanka's population, numbering around 1.6 million, or approximately 7 percent.