Sri Lankan President calls PM Modi, denies reports claiming he alleged India of his assassination plot

Media reports that claimed Lankan President Sirisena accused India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of plotting his assassination, were categorically denied by the Lankan strongman.

Maithripala Sirisena President of Sri Lanka, addresses the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit September 24, 2018 a day before the start of the General Debate of the 73rd session of the General Assembly at the United Nations in New York. - The focus of the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit is on Global Peace in honour of the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela. (Photo by Don EMMERT / AFP)

New Delhi: Following media reports’ claim that Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena accused India of involvement in a plot to assassinate him, the Sri Lankan leader on Wednesday called up Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and categorically rejected all such claims. Sirisena rejected the reports about him alluding to the involvement of India in an alleged conspiracy to kill him and a former defence secretary, the Prime Minister’s Office said. As per the PMO’s statement Sirisena mentioned that the mischievous and malafide reports were utterly baseless and false, and seemed intended to create misunderstanding between the two leaders as well as damage the cordial relations between the two friendly neighbours. He apprised PM Modi of the urgent steps taken by him personally and the Government of Sri Lanka to publically reject these reports. He also called a meeting with the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka today morning. The President also stated that he regards the Prime Minister as a true friend of Sri Lanka, as also a close personal friend.  He stressed that he greatly valued the mutually beneficial ties between India and Sri Lanka, and remained steadfast to work with the Prime Minister for further strengthening them. Modi appreciated the prompt steps taken by the President and his Government to firmly refute the malicious reports by publicly clarifying the matter and also reiterated India’s emphasis on ‘neighbourhood first’ policy and the priority the Government of India and he personally attaches to developing even stronger all-around cooperation between the two countries. Earlier Wednesday, in the day Sri Lankan government had rejected as "completely untrue" media reports that claimed President Sirisena accused India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of plotting his assassination and he opposed awarding a key port project to India. The media reports came ahead of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit to New Delhi for talks with Prime Minister Modi to speed up India-backed projects, including the East Terminal project, in the island nation. (additional inputs from PTI)