Updated

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is talking with Sri Lanka's newly elected president as the South Asia neighbors seek to strengthen strategic ties, increase trade and resolve long-standing issues between them.

Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena was meeting with Indian officials Monday after arriving on his first foreign visit since winning the election last month.

Indian officials said New Delhi would discuss ways to speed up reconciliation efforts in Sri Lanka since the end of a civil war in the island nation in 2009.

India and Sri Lanka were also likely to sign a civil nuclear agreement as part of New Delhi's efforts to assure Colombo on the safety of its nuclear power plants in the southern state of Tamil Nadu that borders Sri Lanka.