The President was received at the New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in New Delhi Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam and India’s High Commissioner in Colombo Mr. Y.K. Sinha.

President Rajapaksa accepted Mr. Modi's invitation last week and will be among a number of heads of state taking part, including Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Nepali Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

The ceremony at which the Oath of Office will be administered will take place this evening at the Rashtrapati Bhavan followed by a dinner reception hosted by Indian President Pranab Mukharjee.

During the two-day visit, President Rajapaksa is also schedule to hold bilateral discussions with Mr. Modi and several other heads of state who will be in New Delhi.

Accompanying the President in the delegation are Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Livestock and Rural Community Development Mr. Arumugam Thondaman, Monitoring MP of the Ministry of External Affairs Mr. Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, Mayor of the Jaffna Municipal Council Mrs. Yogeswaray Patgunarajah, Secretary to the President Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Mrs. Kshenuka Senewiratne.