Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Sri Lankans on their Independence Day

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today greeted the people of Sri Lanka on their Independence Day and said he was looking forward to the visit of President Maithripala Sirisena to India later this month.

"On their Independence Day, my greetings to people of Sri Lanka. The bonds of history, culture & shared values that we share are unbreakable.

"My best wishes for the development of Sri Lanka in the years to come. I look forward to welcoming President Sirisena later this month," he tweeted in English as well as in Sinhalese.

The Sri Lankan President is slated to undertake a two-day official visit to India on February 16.

Sirisena, who dethroned Mahinda Rajapaksa after a bitter presidential poll on January 9, has indicated that he wants to have closer relations with India.