In diplomatic coup, India and Lanka get into nuclear bond

NEW DELHI: In a sign that Sri Lanka under its new leader, President Maithripala Sirisena, is veering towards India as a partner of first choice, India's neighbour across the Palk Strait on Monday signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with India. This is the first time that India's strategically located neighbour in the Indian Ocean has entered into such a cooperation with any country. The agreement was signed in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and Sirisena who is in India on his first overseas visit as president. "The bilateral agreement on civil nuclear cooperation is yet another demonstration of our mutual trust,'' said Modi in a joint statement.   TOI