Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena has called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the telephone to categorically reject reports in sections of the media about him alluding to India’s involvement in any manner in an alleged plot to assassinate him and the former defence secretary of Sri Lanka Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.
The Lankan president said on Wednesday that the “mischievous and mala-fide reports were utterly baseless and false and seemed intended to create misunderstanding between the two leaders as well as damage the relations between the two friendly countries.”
President Sirisena apprised the Indian prime minister of the urgent steps being taken by him personally and the government of Sri Lanka, to publicly reject these false reports.
In this context Sirisen also recalled his meeting with the High Commissioner of India earlier in the day.
The Lankan President also stated that the he regards the Indian Prime Minister as a true friend of Sri Lanka and also as a close personal friend.
Sirisena stressed that he “greatly values” the mutually beneficial ties between India and Sri Lanka, and “remains steadfast on working with the Indian Prime Minister for further strengthening the ties.”
