India’s National Security Advisor Mr. Ajit Doval paid a courtesy call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning at the President’s House in Colombo.

Mr. Doval, who is in Sri Lanka to attend the Galle Dialog 2014, congratulated Sri Lanka on hosting the conference and for the international recognition it has garnered since it started only four years ago, the Presidential Media Unit said.

The inaugural Galle Dialogue in 2010 was held with the participation of about a dozen countries. This year, it has attracted representation from more than 60 countries around the world.

Discussing bilateral relations, Mr. Doval expressed much satisfaction on the quality and range of relations between Sri Lanka and India. President Rajapaksa and Mr. Doval also discussed ways in which to further strengthen these ties.

High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka Mr. Y.K.Sinha and several other senior officials accompanied Mr. Doval.

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Secretary to the President Mr. Lalith Weeratunga and Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Mrs. Kshenuka Senewiratne were also present.

Meanwhile Mr. Doval met with Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe at a hotel in Colombo last evening. It has been reported that they touched on several key topics including Sri Lanka’s current political situation during talks.

During his visit, the Indian National Security Advisor also held meetings with External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well as representatives of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).