NSA Doval meets Lankan president, other leaders for political consultations

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Friday held wide-ranging political consultations with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and other Sri Lankan leaders here ahead of the presidential election on September 21.

Doval, who is here to follow up on the ongoing Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) initiative, met Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunwardena, the main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and the Marxist JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

All, barring Gunawardena, are presidential candidate front runners.

During the meeting with Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat, they discussed ongoing economic collaboration between Sri Lanka and India, according to the Presidential Media Division (PMD).

Senior Adviser to the President on National Security, Sagala Ratnayake, also attended the meeting.

During his meeting with Prime Minister Gunawardena on Thursday night at the Prime Minister's Office, Doval said there is immense potential for India and Sri Lanka to further strengthen economic cooperation "which would be mutually beneficial considering the complementarities in bilateral ties.”