Sri Lankan President, other BIMSTEC leaders arrive for Modi's oath-taking ceremony
New Delhi, May 30 (UNI): International guests and heads of BIMSTEC nations and governments have started arriving in the national capital to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his council of ministers here on Thursday.
President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena arrived today.
"Our Southern Neighbour arrives," tweeted MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar.
Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth has also arrived.
"Neighbour across the Ocean. PM of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth arrives in India for the swearing-in ceremony of PM Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers," the MEA spokesman said,
On the arrival of Myanmar President U Win Myint, the spokesman said "Important pillar of our Act East Policy. President of Myanmar, U Win Myint arrives in Delhi to attend the oath-taking ceremony of PM Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers".
"Relationship rooted in antiquity," he wrote in another missive on the arrival of the Special Envoy of Thailand, Minister Grisada Boonrach.
"Friend. Neighbour. Family. PM of Bhutan Dr Lotay Tshering is warmly received by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale on his arrival in Delhi for attending the oath-taking ceremony of PM Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers," the MEA spokesman said in another missive.
President of Bangladesh Md. Abdul Hamid arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday evening.
"First esteemed guest to arrive! President of Bangladesh, Md. Abdul Hamid arrives in the capital to participate in the oath-taking ceremony of PM Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers," Mr Kumar tweeted.
Mr Modi has invited BIMSTEC nations and government heads for the solemn occasion.
The swearing in ceremony will be held in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan and is likely to be attended by about 8,000 guests - almost double the number than that of 2014 ceremony.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party leader in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad will attend the swearing-in ceremony.
However, most Congress CMs, as also other opposition leaders, could stay away from the glitzy swearing-in ceremony.
In a quick turn of events, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reversed her earlier announcement and said she will not be attending the swearing-in ceremony.
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