Immediate drought relief from India

Considering the worst drought situation in Sri Lanka, India would donate eight water bowsers and 100 metric tonnes of rice as immediate assistance, and was ready to provide further assistance as required, visiting Indian Foreign Secretary, Dr. Jaishankar conveyed the message of India's Minister of External Affairs, Mrs. Sushma Swaraj to Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs yesterday.

Dr. S. Jaishankar also reviewed the entire gamut of our bilateral relations, particularly Indian assisted economic projects and development particularly with Sri Lanka during his three day official visit. 

During his visit, Dr. Jaishankar called on President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. He also met Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera;Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama, and officer senior Ministers as well as Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Esala Weerakoon.

Dr. Jaishankar  also interacted with a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) delegation led by Leader of Opposition R. Sampanthan; a delegation from Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) comprising of Hon’ble Minister of National Co-existence Dialogue and Official Languages, Mr. Mano Ganesan,  Minister of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development Mr. P. Digambaran, State Minister of Education Mr. V. Radhakrishnan; and a delegation from Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) led by Mr. A. Thondaman. Dr. Jaishankar met with the leader of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Minister of City Planning and Water Supply, Mr. Rauff Hakeem and leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mr. Rishad Bathiudeen.