India, April 5 -- By Sahil Pandey

Colombo [Sri Lanka], April 6 (ANI): Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arun Hemachandra, on Saturday said that the Mitra Vibhushana award conferred upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi marks a significant milestone in the bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka.

"We look at it (Mitra Vibhushana award to PM Modi) as a very important milestone in between the historic and the diplomatic contacts that we have, the connectivity that we have. The new government is actually committed to work very closely with India," Hemachandra told ANI.

He added that Sri Lanka received a warm welcome during the President's recent visit to India, and emphasized the growing support from India.

"The assistance Sr...