Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, currently in New Delhi for a state visit, expressed his gratitude towards India for its crucial economic support during Sri Lanka’s financial crisis and for its assistance in restructuring the country’s bilateral debt. Dissanayake’s visit marks his first bilateral trip to India since his victory in both the presidential and parliamentary elections.
During his visit, President Dissanayake acknowledged the immense help extended by India, particularly during Sri Lanka’s unprecedented economic crisis that began around two years ago. “India supported us immensely to come out of that quagmire. It has also helped us immensely after that, especially in the debt-free structuring process,” Dissanayake said. He also emphasized that Sri Lanka holds a significant place in India’s foreign policy.
In a joint press statement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dissanayake underscored the importance of India’s continued support. Prime Minister Modi, in turn, highlighted the depth of the bilateral cooperation between the two nations. “India has provided $5 billion in line of credit and grant assistance to Sri Lanka. We have cooperation in all 25 districts of Sri Lanka,” PM Modi said.
PM Modi also announced several new projects aimed at further strengthening India-Sri Lanka ties. These included assistance for the rehabilitation of the signalling system at the Maho-Anuradhapura railway section and improvements at Kankesanthurai Port. Additionally, 200 scholarships for students at universities in Jaffna and the Eastern Province were announced. Over the next five years, India will also train 1,500 civil servants from Sri Lanka, PM Modi revealed.
The cooperation will also extend to areas such as housing, renewable energy, infrastructure, agriculture, dairy, and fisheries development. “India will also participate in the unique digital identity project in Sri Lanka,” the prime minister added.
In a show of solidarity, President Dissanayake reassured India that Sri Lanka would not allow its territory to be used in any way that could harm India’s interests. He reiterated that Sri Lanka remains committed to strengthening ties with India. “The cooperation with India will certainly flourish, and I want to reassure our continued support for India,” Dissanayake said.
Both leaders also discussed the future of defence cooperation, with PM Modi noting that a defence cooperation agreement with Sri Lanka would be finalized soon. Additionally, cooperation on hydrography was agreed upon, and both nations expressed their belief in the importance of the Colombo Security Conclave for regional peace, security, and development. Under this framework, the two countries will enhance collaboration on issues such as maritime security, counterterrorism, cyber-security, and efforts to combat smuggling and organized crime.
Prime Minister Modi concluded by expressing India’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This visit marks another milestone in the strong and enduring relationship between India and Sri Lanka, with both nations committed to deepening their cooperation across various sectors.
Sources By Agencies
