External Affairs Minister S.

Jaishankar will be on a three-day visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka starting Wednesday to further expand bilateral engagement with the 2 key maritime neighbours of India.Jaishankars very first destination will be the Maldives, where he will sign numerous agreements to reinforce bilateral cooperation.His visit to Sri Lanka on Thursday comes at a time when the island nation is battling a recession and is looking forward to financial obligation restructuring from New Delhi.Sri Lanka, which is trying to protect a much-needed $2.9 billion bridge loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has been attempting to get financial assurances from its major creditors China, Japan, and India.

The IMF has actually revealed its unwillingness to launch funds till India and China agree to lower Colombos financial obligation.

Jaishankar is scheduled to call on Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declaration said.He will likewise hold discussions with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister M.

U.

M.

Ali Sabry on the entire range of a close India-Sri Lanka collaboration and steps to reinforce it in all spheres, the MEA declaration said.

Sri Lanka is a close friend and neighbour, and India has stood with individuals of Sri Lanka at all times, the statement said.Jaishankar had previously checked out Sri Lanka in January 2021 and March last year.During his visit to the Maldives on Wednesday, Jaishankar would contact President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and hold conversations with Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid.The ministers visit to Male will see signing of contracts connected to the bilateral development cooperation, ground-breaking/inauguration/handing-over and launch of a number of key India-supported projects that will add to the socio-economic development of the Maldives, the declaration said.The MEA declaration stated that both the Maldives and Sri Lanka are Indias essential maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and occupy an unique place in the Prime Ministers vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and Neighbourhood First.

It said the external affairs ministers see is statement to the value that India connects to its close and friendly relations with the Maldives and Sri Lanka.Source-- PTI-Agencies