Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for his "personal commitment towards India-Sri Lanka relations" during his official visit to Sri Lanka, highlighting the increasing cooperation between the two neighboring countries in important fields like trade, defence, agriculture, housing, and culture.
The two leaders had extensive bilateral discussions at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on Saturday.
Posting excerpts from the meeting on social media channel X, PM Modi said, "Had lengthy and fruitful discussions with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at Colombo. President Dissanayake had selected India as the destination of his maiden foreign visit after assuming office as President a few months back. Now, I am privileged to be the first foreign country head to be welcomed during his Presidency.". This speaks volumes of his individual dedication towards India-Sri Lanka relations and the irretrievable link between our countries.
He went on to observe, "Much ground has been covered since President Dissanayake went to India, especially in areas such as energy, solar energy, technology and beyond. In today's talks, we exchanged views on how to give further impetus to security, trade, agriculture, housing, culture and other sectors linkages.
The top-level talks ended with the signing of a number of significant agreements. These included an agreement of defence cooperation and on plans for making Trincomalee a strategic energy hub.
Among other significant Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) that were agreed were agreements on the development of an HVDC interconnection for cross-border electricity trade; cooperation in sharing large-scale digital solutions for transformation; grant assistance for multi-sectoral growth in the Eastern Province; cooperation in health and medicine; and cooperation in the field of pharmacopoeia.
Prime Minister Modi also launched a significant capacity-building programme, under which 700 Sri Lankan nationals will be given training in India annually. The Prime Minister further announced Indian financial aid towards the renovation and development of some key cultural heritage sites such as Thirukoneswaram temple in Trincomalee, Sita Eliya temple in Nuwara Eliya, and Sacred City Complex in Anuradhapura. He also announced that sacred Buddha relics would be placed on view in Sri Lanka on International Vesak Day 2025. A bilateral debt restructuring agreement was also successfully finalized.
Some development schemes funded by Indian assistance were also initiated or opened during the visit of Modi. These include the new Maho-Omanthai upgraded railway line, groundbreaking for an advanced signaling system along the Maho-Anuradhapura route, opening of the Sampur solar power plant, the opening of a temperature-controlled agri-warehouse facility in Dambulla, and the supply of rooftop solar systems to 5,000 religious institutions all over Sri Lanka.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit, made at the invitation of President Dissanayake, underscores the two countries' shared commitment to the vision of "Friendship of Centuries – Commitment to a Prosperous Future."
The delegation-level talks in Colombo included prominent Sri Lankan leaders such as Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Labour Minister Anil Jayantha, Presidential Secretary Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, and Central Bank Governor P. Nandalal Weerasinghe.
The Indian delegation included External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, among other senior officials.
On the occasion of his arrival at the Presidential Secretariat, PM Modi was warmly welcomed by President Dissanayake. The Prime Minister was also accorded a grand state reception at Independence Square in Colombo, where Modi was attended by a ceremonial police mounted guard of honour. He was greeted subsequently by full state honours in terms of a ceremonial guard and gun salute, prior to viewing the Guard of Honour laid by the Sri Lanka Armed Forces.
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