<p class="title">External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday met Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed issues relating to development partnership and security cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mahinda Rajapaksa, elder brother of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, arrived here on Friday on a five-day trip, his first overseas visit after being appointed as prime minister of the island nation in November last year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Officials said a number of issues relating to defence, security and trade figured in the meeting between the Sri Lankan prime minister and Jaishankar.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After his official engagement in Delhi, Rajapaksa will travel to Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and Tirupati.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mahinda Rajapaksa served as the country's president from 2005-2015, becoming one of tChe longest-serving leaders in South Asia. He was also prime minister for a brief period in 2018.</p>.<p class="bodytext">President Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited India in November which was also his first official overseas trip after taking charge of the top office.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mahinda Rajapaksa's tenure as president saw China expanding its footprints in the Indian Ocean island nation, triggering concerns in India.</p>
<p class="title">External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday met Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and discussed issues relating to development partnership and security cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mahinda Rajapaksa, elder brother of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, arrived here on Friday on a five-day trip, his first overseas visit after being appointed as prime minister of the island nation in November last year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Officials said a number of issues relating to defence, security and trade figured in the meeting between the Sri Lankan prime minister and Jaishankar.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After his official engagement in Delhi, Rajapaksa will travel to Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya and Tirupati.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mahinda Rajapaksa served as the country's president from 2005-2015, becoming one of tChe longest-serving leaders in South Asia. He was also prime minister for a brief period in 2018.</p>.<p class="bodytext">President Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited India in November which was also his first official overseas trip after taking charge of the top office.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mahinda Rajapaksa's tenure as president saw China expanding its footprints in the Indian Ocean island nation, triggering concerns in India.</p>