Full text of the condolence message:

The last time when I met Dr. Abdul Kalam was when I hosted him for lunch at Water's Wdge in June 2015. I have known him well from the time he was the President of India and the last time I was Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

We had a lot in common. For instance, he was born in Rameshwaran in the Palk Straits and many of his relations live in Mannar, Annuradhpura and Puttlam. This has led to lively discussions between us because he had, in the distant past, on many an occasion, entered Sri Lanka illegally as was the practice in those areas in the 1950s.

His main concern was to use science and technology for human advancement and good neighborliness' At our last meeting we discussed using SAARC, as a vehicle for peace and economic prosperity. Another interest we shared was the PURA concept- providing urban facilities for rural areas. He had given me his book on the topic Target 3 billion (written with Srijan Pal Singh), which I was reading when he died.

I have no doubt that his vision for the region and his innovative ideas on sustainable development will influence our own development initiatives and practice for years to come.