COLOMBO, April 5 -- In an exclusive conversation with NewsX/The Sunday Guardian in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Sri Lanka, former Sri Lankan Prime Minister, and later President, Ranil Wickremesinghe spoke of India-Sri Lanka relations and Sri Lanka's path to recovery after its economic downturn. Edited excerpts:

Q: What are your expectations from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's current visit to Sri Lanka?

A: I would expect that we take the next step in ensuring a closer relationship between our two countries. The vision statement that was prepared in 2023 under my tenure laid out the framework for the same. It included connectivity and collaboration in the dairy sector. The time has come to execute the plans and...