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India has abiding interest in Lanka’s security, says New HC
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Pic by Indika Handuwala
India’s new High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Taranjit Singh Sandhu presented his credentials to President MaithripalaSirisena this week and hosted the Indian community and local dignitaries to a reception at ‘India House’ to mark his country’s 68th Republic Day.
High Commissioner Sandhu served in Sri Lanka previously as a senior diplomat heading the Political Desk and credited with re-setting Indo-US relations while serving as First Secretary (Political) responsible for liaison with the US Congress from 1977-2000 at India’s embassy in Washington DC. He was later promoted to Ambassadorial rank.
Previously, he served in India’s Permanent Mission at the UN in New York and in both Russia and Ukraine.
In his address at the Republic Day celebrations on Thursday, High Commissioner Sandhu referred to India’s “neighbourhood first” policy adding that Sri Lanka had a “special place” in it. He said that India has an abiding interest in the security of Sri Lanka and remains committed to Sri Lanka’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He said “the most important person in his family” is of Sri Lankan birth – his daughter was born in Colombo in 2001 while he was serving in Sri Lanka.
The new High Commissioner is a graduate with History Honours at the prestigious St. Stephen’s College in Delhi and did his Masters in International relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University also in Delhi. He has two children and his wife, Reenat, also a career diplomat, is currently the Deputy Head of Mission at India’s embassy in the United States of America.
Picture shows High Commissioner Sandhu and Special Assignments Minister SarathAmunugama raising a toast for Indo-Lanka relations.