Tilvin Silva-led team visits New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram
Mr. Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, visited India under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations’ (ICCR) Distinguished Visitors Programme from Feb. 5-12.
He was accompanied by Members of Parliament Hon. Kitnan Selvaraj, Hon. Ilankumaran Karunanathan, JVP’s Central Committee Member Mr. Janaka Adhikari, JVP’s Media Unit Head Hemathilaka Gamage, and Member of JVP’s International Relations Department Kalpana Madhubhashini.
During the visit, the delegation visited New Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Thiruvananthapuram.
This was Tilvin Silva’s first visit to India.
As part of the official interactions in New Delhi, JVP General Secretary and the delegation met External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Deputy National Security Advisor Mr. Pavan Kapoor.
The Indian side affirmed that India will always remain a true and trusted partner for Sri Lanka, in accordance with its ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ and Vision ‘MAHASAGAR’.
The discussions focused on growth opportunities for mutual benefit and on social welfare initiatives.
The delegation was briefed on the wide-ranging cultural activities and various scholarships offered by ICCR to the Sri Lankan students.
The delegation visited the Unique Digital Identity Authority of India, the National Disaster Management Authority, Gati Shakti, and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. The New Delhi leg provided an overview of India’s technical capabilities in digital & physical infrastructure, disaster preparedness & response, infrastructure push, and sustainable agricultural practices.
The delegation also visited the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha, reaffirming the centuries-old civilizational connect.
In Ahmedabad, the delegation met separately with Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Harsh Sanghavi.
The two sides deliberated on Gujarat’s inclusive development model across sectors, including dairy, infrastructure, cooperative sector, FinTech, tourism, innovation and entrepreneurship. During the visit, the delegation visited AMUL, Tribhuvan Sahkari University, Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, and International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (i-Create). The delegation paid homage at Mahatma Gandhiji’s Sabarmati Ashram.
During their visit to Thiruvananthapuram, Tilvin Silva and the delegation met Kerala Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan.
They visited the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, gaining exposure to India’s advancements in space science and technology, and the Vizhinjam deep-water container transhipment port, developed under a Public-Private Partnership model.
The visit by the JVP delegation led by its General Secretary, Tilvin Silva, is part of India’s ongoing engagement with political leaders across party lines in Sri Lanka.