FM to visit India this week as President’s China visit postponed

• Minister to visit India on 9 and 10 Jan.
• President’s visit to China, scheduled for mid-Jan., postponed
• Russian FM in Colombo on 14 Jan. for talks

By Chandani Kirinde

Minister of Foreign Relations Dinesh Gunawardena will undertake his first official overseas visit since being appointed to the post with a two-day visit to India this week.

A Ministry official said the visit will be on 9 and 10 January. 

Minister of Foreign Relations Dinesh Gunawardena

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also undertook his first overseas visit after being elected to office to India in late November.

Meanwhile the scheduled visit by the President to China has been delayed, the official said. No new date for the visit has been given.

The President was to undertake his second official overseas visit to China in mid-January, on an invitation extended to him by President Xi Jinping of China. A President’s Office source said the postponement may be due to the arrival of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is due in Sri Lanka on 14 January.

He is scheduled to meet with President Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, and also to hold talks with the Foreign Minister.