Indian Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs of India, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, has embarked on an official visit to Sri Lanka, commencing on November 1, 2023, for a three-day diplomatic mission. During her visit, she is set to participate in significant events and hold key discussions to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.

A notable highlight of the visit will be Smt. Sitharaman's keynote address as the Guest of Honour at 'NAAM 200.' This event, organized by the Government of Sri Lanka, commemorates the 200th anniversary of the arrival of India-origin Tamils (IOTs) to Sri Lanka. The occasion, scheduled for November 2, will be held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo and will be graced by distinguished figures, including H.E. Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka, Mr. Dinesh Gunawardena, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, and Mr. Jeevan Thondaman, Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development, along with other dignitaries. Representatives from Indian political parties and the Malaysian Tamil Congress will also be in attendance.

Furthermore, Union Finance Minister Smt. Sitharaman will deliver a keynote address at the India Sri Lanka Business Summit. The summit's theme, 'Enhancing Connectivity: Partnering for Prosperity,' highlights the collaborative efforts to bolster economic ties between the two countries. This event is jointly organized by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Indo-Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, and is slated for November 2 at the Hotel Taj Samudra in Colombo.

As part of her official visit, Smt. Sitharaman is scheduled to hold call-on meetings with H.E. Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka, and Mr. Dinesh Gunawardena, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

A significant moment of the visit will be the witnessing of the Memorandum of Understanding for Solar Electrification of Religious Places in Sri Lanka. India will allocate INR 82.40 crores as part of the Government of India's grant assistance of INR 107.47 crores designated for the promotion of Buddhist ties between the two nations.

Smt. Sitharaman will also inaugurate SBI (State Bank of India) branches in Trincomalee on November 2 and Jaffna on November 3.

In addition to official engagements, the Finance Minister is set to visit prominent sites of cultural and religious significance, including the Sri Dalada Maligawa (The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic) in Kandy, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura, Thirukoneswaram Temple in Trincomalee, and Nallur Kandaswamy Temple in Jaffna during her stay in Sri Lanka. Her visit will also include visits to Lanka IOC Oil Tank Farms, Jaffna Cultural Centre, and Jaffna Public Library.