Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Seychelles,Mauritius & Sri Lanka March 09-14,2015

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Seychelles' capital late Monday night March 09,2015 on the first leg of his 3-nation tour that will also take him to Mauritius and Sri Lanka, observing that strong relations with Indian Ocean island countries were "vital" for India's security and progress.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew in to the Seychelles' capital by a special Air India plane after nearly six-hour flight.

Prime Minister Narendra Mod, the first Indian Prime Minister to travel to Seychelles in 33 years, said his visit to the three Indian Ocean island countries "reflects our foreign policy priorities in India's immediate and extended neighbourhood"
"India's relationship with Seychelles has been built on the foundation of mutual trust and shared values...I am keenly looking forward to my meeting with President James Michel, a great friend of India," he had said in a pre-departure statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is accompanied by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar.

After Seychelles, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit Mauritius on March 11-12 where he will be the Chief Guest at the Independence Day celebrations on March 12, a date he called special to all Indians because Mahatma Gandhi began his Dandi March on the same date in 1930 and will undertake his visit to Sri Lanka on March 13-14,2015 (Narendra Modi will also be the first Indian Prime Minister to travel to Sri Lanka in 28 years)