Presidents of Sri Lanka, Serbia arrive in New Delhi for AI Impact Summit

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, Feb 17 (IANS) Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday evening to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026 in the Indian capital.

He was received at the airport by the Minister of State, Ministry of Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Lankan leader’s visit will further boost the multifaceted and close partnership between the two neighbouring countries which remains rooted in shared people-to-people ties.

The Lankan President’s office stated that, at a time when emerging technologies are reshaping economies and societies, Sri Lanka’s participation in the first summit of its kind to be hosted in the Global South reflects the depth and priority of the India–Sri Lanka partnership and the shared commitment to ensuring innovation remains inclusive, responsible and people-centred.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit, it added, builds on his landmark State Visit in December 2024 and the joint vision ‘Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future’ adopted on December 16, 2024.

Sri Lanka and India have sustained momentum across connectivity, economic engagement, digital cooperation, capacity building and people-to-people ties.

“As one of the South Asian leaders present, the President’s participation underscores both the closeness of our relationship and our commitment to working together on issues that will shape the future. Rooted in proximity, strengthened by trust, and guided by practical cooperation, the India–Sri Lanka partnership continues to evolve with purpose,” the High Commission of Sri Lanka stated.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026, being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from February 16-20, brings together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society from across the world to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.

The India AI Impact Summit aims to reflect on the transformative potential of AI aligning with the national vision of ‘Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya’ (welfare for all, happiness for all) and global principle of AI for Humanity.

The Summit is witnessing the participation of more than 110 countries, 30 International organisations, including about 20 Head of States/Heads of Government level participation and about 45 ministers.

This summit is fourth in the series of AI summits held at UK Bletchley Park in 2023, South Korea in 2024 and France in 2025.

Meanwhile, President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic also arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday to attend the AI Summit.

He was received by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on his arrival at the airport in New Delhi.

“His participation in India-AI Impact Summit will impart further momentum to the strong and close friendship between India and Serbia,” stated MEA.

–IANS

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Pakistan brought to its knees for Pahalgam attack: PM Modi roars in Rajasthan

New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the Indian armed forces taught Pakistan a lesson for the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam and ‘Operation Sindoor’ made the enemy nation kneel in just a matter of a few hours.

Addressing a rally in Rajasthan’s Bikaner, PM Modi said, “Terrorists had tried to wipe out the sindoor of our sisters by killing their husbands, after segregating them on basis of religion and for this depraved act, they and their handlers as well as masters have been given a befitting response by our forces.”

“In response to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, our forces flattened the terror bases across the border in just 22 minutes. Our forces destroyed and decimated nine big terror infrastructure in just 22 minutes,” PM Modi said, highlighting the efficacy and significance of ‘Operation Sindoor’.

“The whole world has got to see what happens when Sindoor turns gunpowder,” he roared, while the crowd elicited loud cheers and chanted Modi-Modi.

PM Modi’s visit to Bikaner also revived memories of his 2019 public address in Churu, a town near India-Pakistan border, where he delivered his first address after the Balakot airstrikes, following the Pulwama terror attack.

Recalling his 2019 address, PM Modi said, “Five years ago, when the Indian Air Force carried out Balakot air strikes, my first public address was in a border region in Rajasthan.

When I came to Rajasthan after Air Force strikes across the border, I had said, “Saugandh mujhe mitti ki, main desh nahin mitne doonga, main desh nahin jhukne doonga.”

“Today, after Operation Sindoor – I am addressing my first public address in the border area in Bikaner, Rajasthan,” he said and added that India’s enemies will now be punished beyond their imagination.

“This is a new form of justice – yeh Operation Sindoor hai,” PM Modi thundered.

–IANS

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Deportation should be done humanely, says minister after 50 youths from Haryana sent from US in shackles

Chandigarh, Oct 27 (IANS) Haryana Transport Minister Anil Vij on Monday reacted to the incident in which 50 youths from Haryana were deported from the US in shackles, saying those who went to America through the “donkey route” did not travel through authorised means. However, Vij added, “If people are being deported, the process should be carried out humanely. No matter how they went, they are human beings and have human rights.”

He said the government has formulated a policy to take strict action against the agents who send people abroad illegally and pointed out that the government’s goal is to ensure justice for those youths and to prevent such incidents in the future.

As many as 54 Indian nationals, 50 of whom are from Haryana, were deported from the US for allegedly entering the country illegally. The deportees arrived at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Flight OAE-4767 on Saturday night, officials said.

Responding to the deportation, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said he was aware of this issue.

“I have repeatedly said this route is not safe for our youth. We want them to pursue education, develop skills, and go abroad through legal channels. The government provides assistance in obtaining passports and visas for legitimate travel,” he said.

Commenting on the ongoing protests regarding SIR, minister Vij said, “If the Election Commission is rectifying its records, it is a good exercise. If some people are registered in places where they should not be, the Election Commission’s action is a commendable democratic exercise.”

Responding to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s statement that his government would “throw the Waqf Bill into the dustbin” if it comes to power, Vij said, “Tejashwi Yadav doesn’t seem to understand his own position. No state Assembly can nullify a law passed by the Parliament. Saying that a law passed by the Parliament will be thrown into a dustbin is an insult to the Parliament.”

Reacting to Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad’s demand for a Muslim Chief Minister in Bihar, Vij said, “Anyone can make demands, but only the person who secures the majority of public support can become the Chief Minister.”

Known for his accurate political predictions during the Haryana elections, veteran lawmaker Vij also predicted that “the NDA will win the Bihar elections by a large margin, and the NDA government will be formed there as well.”

–IANS

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High command ‘misunderstood’ me: KN Rajanna

Bengaluru, Aug 11 (IANS) K.N. Rajanna, former minister and a close associate of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was asked to tender his resignation over his remarks regarding the alleged election fraud issue, stated on Monday that the Congress high command has misunderstood him, and he will meet the national leaders in Delhi.

“I will go to Delhi and meet the high command. I have received information that there seems to be a misunderstanding by the high command regarding the matter. I will go with senior ministers and MLAs of the party to Delhi and will clarify the misunderstanding. I will conduct myself according to the guidance of the national leadership,” Rajanna said.

Rajanna, who was the State Cooperation Minister, was asked to submit his resignation after his remark against the LoP Rahul Gandhi’s press conference on the voter fraud. “If there was voter fraud, the state Congress should have pointed it out much earlier,” he had said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Arvind Bellad said that Rajanna was asked to submit his resignation after his remark against LoP Rahul Gandhi’s press conference on the voter fraud.

He said that Shivakumar has made Chief Minister Siddaramaiah take action against his close aide Rajanna by “forcing” him to resign.

“This is a major blow given by Shivakumar to Siddaramaiah,” he claimed.

He claimed that through this step, a message has been sent to Siddaramaiah that his term is over and he will not remain Chief Minister for much longer. Another reason for taking action against Minister Rajanna is that during the last assembly session, Rajanna accused Shivakumar – without naming him – of trying to trap him with a honeytrap, Bellad pointed out.

“In retaliation, Shivakumar ensured that action was taken against Rajanna, a close aide of Siddaramaiah, and sent the message to Siddaramaiah that his term is over and he will not continue as Chief Minister for much longer,” Bellad said.

BJP MLC C.T. Ravi also claimed that “dictatorship is in the DNA” of the Congress party, and no one can question the dictator of Congress.

“By forcing the resignation of Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna, Congress has once again proven that there is no room for truth in the party,” he said.

He claimed that for speaking this truth, the head of the Valmiki community leader and Cooperation Minister Rajanna has been “forced” to resign.

“This clearly demonstrates that in Congress, one family holds absolute power, and no one is allowed to question the wrongdoings of that power. The fate that befell Rajanna for speaking the truth will befall others as well,” he alleged.

–IANS

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