NEW DELHI: In what will be his first foreign visit since he became president, Maithripala Sirisena of Sri Lanka will pay a three-day visit to India starting February 15. Sirisena and PM Narendra Modi will seek to repair bilateral ties which were hit under Sirisena's predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa. The PM tweeted that he was looking forward to the visit by the Lankan president. 

Modi Government will develop Lanka on the "foundation of genuine and effective reconciliation" creating harmony between all sections there." 

The 63-year-old leader will also travel to Buddhist pilgrimage site Bodh Gaya and Hindu temple in Tirupathi during his visit to India. 

All bilateral matters including economy, peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, besides other long standing issues will be discussed during the meeting between the two leaders, the MEA spokesperson said. 

India has been hoping that the new government will develop Lanka on the "foundation of genuine and effective reconciliation" creating harmony between all sections there." 

In his address on the Sri Lanka's 67th anniversary of independence, Sirisena yesterday said that his government would pursue a foreign policy of neutrality to win over the international community to develop the island.