I am keenly looking forward to my three nation tour of Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka on March 10-14. We have a strong, multifaceted and important relationship with each, and they all occupy a very important place in our foreign policy.

My visit to the three Indian Ocean Island countries reflects our foreign policy priorities in India’s immediate and extended neighbourhood. India attaches paramount importance to strengthening relations with this region, which is vital for India’s security and progress.

My first destination will be Seychelles. India’s relationship with Seychelles has been built on the foundation of mutual trust and shared values. My visit to Seychelles will be the first Prime Ministerial visit to Seychelles since 1981. I am keenly looking forward to my meeting with President James Michel, a great friend of India.

On March 11-12, I will be in Mauritius. I am honoured to have been invited to be the Chief Guest at the Independence Day celebrations in Mauritius on 12 March, a date special to all Indians because Mahatma Gandhi began his Dandi March on the same date in 1930. My visit to Mauritius will aim to strengthen our age-old civilizational ties with “Chhota Bharat”.

I am honoured to be invited to address the National Assembly of Mauritius. I will be participating in the joint commissioning of Indian-built Offshore Patrol Vessel Barracuda, and in the beginning of construction works for the building of World Hindi Secretariat.

I look forward to discussing with Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth ways in which we can further deepen our strategic partnership. I also look forward to meeting the entire political leadership of Mauritius, which has provided unstinting support for this relationship.

My visit to Sri Lanka will be the first standalone Prime Ministerial visit to Sri Lanka since 1987. This will be our second Summit in a month’s time since the visit of President Maithripala Sirisena to India last month.

I see this visit as an opportunity to further strengthen our relationship in all its dimensions – political, strategic, economic, cultural, and above all, people to people contacts.

This visit is also part of my objective of maintaining frequent contact with our neighbouring countries. I am delighted with the opportunity to visit one of our most important neighbours.

I look forward to discussing our bilateral relations with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. I am also looking forward to meeting other political leaders of Sri Lanka. We will work together to forge a new partnership between our countries.

I am deeply honoured to be invited to address the Parliament of Sri Lanka. My programme also includes some of the most important symbols of our timeless relationship. I will be visiting the Mahabodhi Society in Colombo, and travel to Anuradhapura, Talaimannar and Jaffna, and interact with the cross-section of society. In Jaffna, I will be laying the foundation stone for the iconic Jaffna Cultural Centre that will come up adjacent to the historic Jaffna Public Library.

I am confident that my visits to all three countries will reinvigorate our relations with them in this all-important region we call home – the Indian Ocean.

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78వ స్వాతంత్ర్య దినోత్సవ వేళ ఎర్రకోట ప్రాకారం నుంచి ప్రధాన మంత్రి శ్రీ నరేంద్ర మోదీ ప్రసంగం
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Indian Toy Sector Sees 239% Rise In Exports In FY23 Over FY15: Study
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Text of PM’s interaction with the students and train loco pilots during the ride in NAMO Bharat Train from Sahibabad RRTS Station to New Ashok Nagar RRTS Station
January 05, 2025
QuoteThe amazing talent of my young friends filled me with new energy: PM

Prime Minister: So, you are an artist as well?

Student: Sir, this is your poem.

Prime Minister: Ah, so you’ll recite my poem?

Student:

"अपने मन में एक लक्ष्य लिए, मंज़िल अपनी प्रत्यक्ष लिए

हम तोड़ रहे हैं जंजीरें, हम बदल रहे हैं तकदीरें

ये नवयुग है, ये नव भारत, हम खुद लिखेंगे अपनी तकदीर

हम बदल रहे हैं तस्वीर, खुद लिखेंगे अपनी तकदीर

हम निकल पड़े हैं प्रण करके, तन-मन अपना अर्पण करके

जिद है, जिद है एक सूर्य उगाना है, अम्बर से ऊँचा जाना है

एक भारत नया बनाना है, अम्बर से ऊँचा जाना है, एक भारत नया बनाना है।"

(With a goal in mind, with the destination in sight,
We are breaking chains, we are changing destinies.
This is a new era, this is a new India, we will write our own destiny.
We are changing the image, we will write our own destiny.
We have set out with a pledge, having dedicated our body and mind.
I am determined, I am determined to start a new beginning,
I must go higher than the sky.
We have to build a new India,
We must rise above the sky,
We have to build a new India).

Prime Minister: Wow.

Prime Minister: What is your name?

Student: (Not clear.)

|

Prime Minister: Great! So, did you get your house? Progress is being made with the new house—well done!

Student: (Not clear.)

Prime Minister: Wow, that’s great.

Prime Minister: UPI…

Student: Yes, Sir. Today, every home has UPI because of you.

Prime Minister: Do you make this yourself?

Student: Yes.

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Prime Minister: What is your name?

Student: Aarna Chauhan.

Prime Minister: Yes.

Student: I also wish to recite a poem for you.

Prime Minister: I would love for you to recite a poem. Please go ahead.

Student: "नरेन्द्र मोदी एक नाम है, जो मीत का नई उड़ान है,

आप लगे हो देश को उड़ाने के लिए, हम भी आपके साथ हैं देश को बढ़ाने के लिए।"

(Narendra Modi is a name, a new horizon for my friend.
While you strive to elevate the country,
We stand with you to contribute to its growth).

Prime Minister: Well done.

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Prime Minister: Have you all completed your training?

Metro Loco Pilot: Yes, Sir.

Prime Minister: Are you managing well?

Metro Loco Pilot: Yes, Sir.

Prime Minister: Are you satisfied with this work?

Metro Loco Pilot: Yes, Sir. Sir, we are India's first (unclear)... We are immensely proud of it. We feel very good, Sir.

Prime Minister: You all must need to focus a lot; there’s probably no time for casual chit-chatting?

Metro Loco Pilot: No, Sir, we don’t have time for anything like that... (unclear) nothing of that sort happens.

Prime Minister: Nothing happens?

Metro Loco Pilot: Yes, Sir.

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Prime Minister: Alright, best wishes to all of you.

Metro Loco Pilot: Thank you, Sir.

Metro Loco Pilot: We are all very happy to have met you, Sir.