News
President ends first overseas state visit with commitment to enhance mutually beneficial Indo-Lanka relations
View(s):President Anura Kumara Disanayake’s first state visit to India this week concluded with leaders of the two countries making a strong commitment to enhance Indo-Sri Lanka relations for a mutually beneficial partnership. The visit was also President Disanayake’s first overseas state visit since being elected head of state in September.
President Disanayake undertook the three-day state visit from December 15 to 17 at the invitation of Indian President Droupadi Murmu. Received by President Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the President was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan with a 21-gun salute and an Honour Guard. The two Presidents discussed matters relating to the bilateral relationship. President Murmu also hosted a state banquet. During his speech at the banquet, President Disanayake stated that the relationship between the two countries is “civilizationally linked and defined by mutual respect, cooperation, and a shared destiny.”
Joint press conference between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
“As Sri Lanka stands on the threshold of a new era, it is important to further strengthen its economic ties, enhance people-to-people connections, and advance regional and global cooperation. The future holds immense potential. The role of our two countries in ensuring peace, stability, security, and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean region is of paramount importance,” declared the President.
President Disanayake also held wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House. During the talks, the President invited the Premier Modi to undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka at mutual convenience.
The bilateral talks between the two leaders culminated in the ‘India-Sri Lanka Joint Statement – Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future.’ In the 34-point joint statement, the two leaders “reaffirmed that the India-Sri Lanka bilateral partnership is underpinned by deep-rooted cultural and civilizational ties, geographical proximity and the people-to-people relations.”
President Disanayake meeting Indian President Droupadi Murmu
The joint statement noted that President Disanayake conveyed his deep appreciation for the unwavering support extended by India to the people of Sri Lanka during and after the unprecedented economic crisis in 2022. “Recalling his profound commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of the Sri Lankan people for a prosperous future, greater opportunities, and sustained economic growth, he looked forward to India’s continued support for the achievement of these objectives. Prime Minister Modi assured President Disanayake of India’s full commitment in this regard, in keeping with the special place Sri Lanka occupies in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR’vision,” the statement added. Both leaders agreed to further intensify political engagements at leadership and ministerial levels.
Two bilateral legal instruments, namely, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration and National Centre for Good Governance of the Government of India for training and capacity-building of 1500 civil servants of Sri Lanka and a Protocol for amending the Agreement of Avoidance of Double Taxation were exchanged by the two sides.
The two leaders also held talks on cooperation on energy development. The joint statement stated they agreed to take steps towards the implementation of the solar power project in Sampur and further augment its capacity as per the requirements of Sri Lanka. There was also agreement to continue consideration of the several proposals which are in different stages of discussion including: supply of LNG from India to Sri Lanka; establishment of a high-capacity power grid interconnection between India and Sri Lanka; cooperation amongst India, Sri Lanka and UAE to implement a multi-product pipeline from India to Sri Lanka for supply of affordable and reliable energy; joint development of offshore wind power potential in Palk Straits, while prioritising environmental protection including fauna and flora.
Both leaders also acknowledged the issues faced by fishermen on both sides and factoring the livelihood concerns, and agreed on the need to continue to address these in a humanitarian manner. In this regard, they also underscored the need to take measures to avoid any aggressive behaviour or violence.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Labour Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando before the Anagarika Dharmapala statue at the Maha Bodhi Centre at Buddha Gaya. General Secretary of the Maha Bodhi Society of India Ven.Palawatte Seewalee Thera and other Sri Lankan monks are also in the picture.
The two countries further agreed to continue discussions on the Economic & Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) and enhance INR-LKR trade settlements between the two countries. It was also agreed to continue talks to further cooperation in other areas such as defence, agriculture, cultural and tourism development, as well as regional and multilateral cooperation.
Meanwhile, renewable energy project figured prominently during the India – Sri Lanka Business forum held on Monday in New Delhi addressed by President Disanayake and Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
The President said Sri Lanka welcomes investment in the renewable energy sector, especially in the solar and wind sectors, and said he seeks to increase the share of renewable energy in Sri Lanka’s energy consumption mix to lower the cost of electricity in the country, the Indian High Commission said.
President Disanayake in his address said that Sri Lanka will make itself conducive and efficient for businesses, adding that Sri Lanka is ready to open market for India. Additionally, he highlighted minerals as a potential area of investment in the country.
Speaking of India’s strength in the ICT sector, he shared that the digital economy is a focus area for Sri Lanka over the course of this decade, and invited Indian investment in the ICT sector of Sri Lanka, the High Commission added.
Minister Goyal, mentioned that Sri Lanka has a special place in India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and that India will work shoulder-to-shoulder with Sri Lanka to support the shared prosperity of both countries. He mentioned tourism as a potential area of collaboration. India could also play a role in expanding Sri Lanka’s renewable energy sector, and, likewise, invited Sri Lanka to be a part of India’s renewable energy journey.
He also mentioned pharmaceuticals, ICT, and the film industry as potential areas of collaboration between Sri Lanka and India. He shared that India is open to collaboration on higher education and shared that India would be open to establishing campuses in Sri Lanka. He also invited Sri Lankan universities as well as medical and engineering colleges to establish campuses in India.
President Disanayake also paid his respects to the life of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, the memorial for the ‘Father of the Nation’. He also planted an ‘Ashoka Pendula’ plant at the adjacent Gandhi Darshan precinct.
India’s Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Minister of Health & Family Welfare and President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jagat Prakash Nadda, Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of External Affairs Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on President Disanayake during his stay in New Delhi.
The President later travelled to Bodh Gaya, where he paid homage at the Mahabodhi Temple and the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree, the site where Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment, and received blessings. He offered Buddha pooja and alms to the resident venerable monks.
Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, who accompanied the President, was hosted to an interaction by the India Foundation, a premier think tank in India. Addressing an audience comprising eminent citizens, including former diplomats, officials, academics and intellectuals based in Delhi, Minister Herath shared insights on the vision for the bilateral relations, predicated on the overwhelming and unprecedented mandate received by the country’s leadership and government at the recent presidential and parliamentary elections.
On Friday (20), Minister Herath held a media briefing on the President’s state visit. He also sought to clarify what he claimed were misleading claims regarding the ETCA agreement as well as the proposed multi-product pipeline from India to Sri Lanka. “We agreed to continue talks on the previously proposed pipeline. Claims that we agreed to lay a pipeline from India to Sri Lanka during this visit are false,” he stressed. With regard to ETCA, he emphasised that the two leaders only agreed to continue further discussions on ETCA and nothing more.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!