India is expected to reach out to leaders of neighboring countries, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi this weekend, people familiar with the development said on Wednesday.
Modi is set to become the Prime Minister for the third consecutive time as the NDA won 293 seats in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.
According to the sources, leaders from the following countries are likely to be invited to attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Mauritius.
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe's office, in a statement, said that the media division confirmed that the invitation extended by Modi to the Sri Lankan President for his swearing-in ceremony, has been accepted.
"Prime Minister @narendramodi invited President Wickremesinghe to his swearing-in ceremony, which President @RW_UNP graciously accepted," the statement read.
Modi also reached out to Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, over the phone to extend his invitation for the ceremony, which was accepted, diplomatic sources said.
The sources further added that an invitation is expected to be extended to the Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, and Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth for the swearing-in event of Modi.
He has already spoken with Prachanda over the phone. Formal invitations will be sent by Thursday, according to one of the sources cited.
SAARC heads had attended Modi's swearing-in ceremony when he took over the reins of the country in 2014. Similarly, BIMSTEC heads had attended Modi's swearing-in event in 2019, for his second consecutive term as PM.
The new term in office for Modi is expected to start on June 8, when he will take the oath. The BJP-led alliance alone polled 293 seats in the 543, way above the majority mark of 272 in the Lower House.
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