India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar will visit Sri Lanka from 5th to 7th January. This will be EAM’s first visit this year amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The visit is arranged through the air-bubble due to Covid-19 travel restrictions in both countries.
During the visit, EAM will call on Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
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A Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry statement said, “While this official visit marks the first arrival of a high-level foreign dignitary in Sri Lanka in 2021, it becomes also the first foreign visit for External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar in the New Year.”
One of the key focuses during the visit will the Covid-19 vaccine. India has assured that it will be providing the Covid-19 vaccine to its neighbours on priority. Over the weekend India’s drug regulator gave approval to vaccines: Covishield and Covaxin for use.
The Ministry of External Affairs in its release said that the visit “signifies the priority both countries attach to strengthening their close and cordial relations in all spheres of mutual interest.”
EAM has been to UAE, Bahrain, Seychelles, Qatar, Iran, Russia and Japan in the latter half of 2020 as the pandemic impacted the world.
