First-ever bilateral visit: VP CP Radhakrishnan in Sri Lanka to bolster housing and heritage ties

New Delhi: Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan embarks on Sunday for a two-day official visit, marking his inaugural bilateral mission to the island nation since taking office.

The visit, a central component of New Delhi’s "Neighbourhood First" diplomatic strategy, focuses on high-level political dialogue and outreach to the Indian-origin Tamil community.

"Hon'ble Vice President of India, Shri. C. P. Radhakrishnan @VPIndia has departed for Sri Lanka," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated in a post on X. "A rich agenda involving meeting with Sri Lankan leadership and interacting with Indian community lies ahead."

Diplomatic and Community Engagement

Radhakrishnan is slated to hold talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. His itinerary also includes meetings with the Leader of the Opposition and representatives from both Sri Lankan Tamil and Indian-origin Tamil political organisations.

According to Santosh Jha, the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, the vice president will travel to the tea-growing highlands of Nuwara Eliya. The region is home to a substantial population of Indian-origin Tamils, where Radhakrishnan will inspect housing settlements developed under Phase III of the Indian Housing Project.

The initiative has already completed 4,000 homes, with an additional 10,000 units currently under construction. During his time in the up-country region, the vice president is also expected to visit the historic Seetha Temple.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

The visit has been met with enthusiasm from the local business and cultural sectors. Santosh Menon, president of the Lanka India Business Association, characterised the moment as "significant and important in the history of the relationship between the two countries," noting that ties have reached a contemporary peak.

Kishore Reddy, president of the Indian CEO Forum in Sri Lanka, echoed these sentiments, highlighting India’s consistent support during regional emergencies.

"We are very happy as his visit is going to strengthen people-to-people ties as well as the business and economic relationship that India already has," Reddy said. "India has always assisted Sri Lanka in all the calamities, including the recent Cyclone Ditwah and the present crisis as well."

The Ministry of External Affairs emphasised that Sri Lanka remains a primary partner under India’s "Vision MAHASAGAR" framework. Officials stated the visit is intended to reinforce civilizational links and deepen the "enduring people-to-people relationship" that has defined the two nations for centuries.

With inputs from ANI