Besides pledging Rs.500 crore (around $100 million), India is actively assisting Sri Lanka in resettling Tamils, a sensitive issue in Tamil Nadu. Six Indian demining teams are in Sri Lanka's northeast to make the area secure and habitable for civilians.

Underlining the importance of India in Sri Lanka's foreign policy calculus, Jayasinghe said that his effort will be to expand relations with New Delhi on all fronts.

'As foreign secretary, it's my responsibility to follow the policy of the government of Sri Lanka. We will work for closer and stronger relations with India,' he said.

'The relations and understanding between the two countries are already strong. We will build upon it.

'Sri Lanka has a holistic approach to advance relationship with India on all fronts. My effort would be to take this process forward.'