New Delhi, Dec 16 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that ties between India and Sri Lanka will keep getting stronger and added that the India visit of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will add great momentum to the bilateral friendship.
In posts on X, the PM said:
“India-Sri Lanka ties will keep getting stronger!
“It was indeed wonderful meeting you, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Your visit to India is going to add great momentum to the India-Sri Lanka friendship!”
He said the talks with the visiting Sri Lankan president “covered topics such as trade, investment, connectivity and energy. Our nations also look forward to collaborating in sectors such as housing, agriculture, dairy and fisheries.”
The PM was replying to a post on X by Sri Lankan President Dissanayake, in which he thanked PM Modi for helping his country during the economic crisis.
“It is a privilege to visit India on my first overseas trip as President and I am grateful to PM @narendramodi for supporting Sri Lanka during the economic crisis and for aiding debt restructuring.
“We discussed trade, defence, energy, BRICS, UNCLCS, and stopping illegal fishing during our meeting today. I invited PM Modi to visit Sri Lanka and assured India that Sri Lanka’s territory would not be used against India’s security interests.”
Earlier, in his media statement after talks with the Sri Lankan President, PM Modi said the two sides will work on building electricity grid connectivity and multi-product petroleum pipeline between their nations.
He also said that they had discussed reconciliation and reconstruction in Sri Lanka and expressed hope that the Sri Lankan government will fulfil the aspirations of the Tamil people.
PM Modi said that President Dissanayake’s state visit has “imparted new pace and energy to the bilateral ties”.
“We have adopted a futuristic vision for our relations. We have focused on investment-led growth and connectivity in our economic partnership, and decided that physical, digital and energy connectivity will be the key foundations of our partnership.”
“We will work on building electricity grid connectivity and multi product petroleum pipeline between our two nations. We will advance the Sampur solar power project and alongside we will arrange for the LNG supply for Sri Lanka’s power plants,” the PM said.
He said the two sides will also try and conclude negotiations on the free trade agreement as soon as possible.
“Till now USD5 billion Lines of Credit and grant assistance have been provided to Sri Lanka. We have provided development assistance in every of Sri Lanka’s 25 districts. Our projects are always based on the developmental priorities of our partner countries,” the PM said.
“To take forward our development partnership, we have decided to provide grant assistance for the signalling system of the Maho-Anuradhapura railway line and the Kankesanthurai port redevelopment.”
“For our education partnership in Jaffna and northern districts 200 college students will be provided scholarships. For the next five years 1,500 Sri Lankan civil servants will be provided training in India.”
“Alongwith housing, renewable energy and infrastructure, India will provide assistance for Sri Lanka’s agriculture, fisheries and dairy sector. India will partner in Sri Lanka’s unique digital identity.”
“We both are in agreement that our security needs are joined to each other. We have decided to speed up conclusion of our defence agreement. We are also in agreement for cooperation in the field of hydrography. We are in agreement that the Colombo Security Conclave is a very important platform for regional peace and security,” he said.
Following the talks, the two sides signed some outcomes:
Financial assistance scheme to 100 new students each annually from University of Jaffna and Eastern University until the end of academic courses of the beneficiaries; Grant assistance of USD 14.9 million for the signaling project in Maho-Anuradhapura section; Protocol Amending the Agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of India for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income; and MoU between National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), Government of India and Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) on Training and Capacity Building Programme for Civil Servants of Sri Lanka.
Later, the Sri Lankan President posted on his meeting with VP Jagdeep Dhankhar and Health Minister JP Nadda.
“Had a productive meeting with @VPIndia Jagdeep Dhankhar today (16), where we discussed enhancing economic cooperation, agriculture, and digitalization. Appreciate his congratulations on my electoral victory. Later, I also met with Indian Health Minister @JPNadda to further strengthen ties.”
The Vice President posted that the talks with the Sri Lankan President “centred around further strengthening the thriving, multi-faceted partnership between India and Sri Lanka, built upon the firm foundations of kinship, history and culture.”
The MEA spokesperson posted:
“A new milestone in the India-Sri Lanka partnership.
“Wide-ranging discussions held between the delegations of India and Sri Lanka led by PM @narendramodi and President @anuradisanayake respectively.
“Both sides reviewed the comprehensive India-Sri Lanka partnership and agreed on a roadmap to deepen ties for the mutual benefit of the two countries as well as the region.”
