President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to begin a three-day visit to India today and will meet with his counterpart Pratibha Patil and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The visit comes amid growing concern in Sri Lanka over a proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two neighbours.

The President’s visit also comes as Sri Lanka has been looking to expedite rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the north, which was liberated from the LTTE last year. India already has a contract to rebuild the damaged railway network in the north and improve runways in the northern air base in Palaly. India is also working on a coal power project in Sampur.

The government sources said the President will sign several bilateral agreements on defence, trade, and economic promotion between Sri Lanka and India during his visit. The President’s visit to India on June 8 would be the first after his re-election in January this year.

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Ministers Keheliya Rambukwella and Douglas Devananda, and Secretary to the President, Lalith Weerathunge will accompany the President.