Prime Minister Narendra Modi being received by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and other dignitaries upon his arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, in Colombo on Thursday. (Source: PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi being received by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and other dignitaries upon his arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, in Colombo on Thursday. As many as 29 Heads of State and 110 countries, including several South Asian nations, are expected to attend. Certainly, it would have been terrible optics if the leader of one of India’s closest friends in the region was absent when the Prime Minister came visiting. Nepal’s Prime Minister Prachanda aims at balancing India and China — which is why he allowed his country’s first military exercise with China a few weeks ago.

Source: Indian Express May 11, 2017 19:18 UTC