Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. | Photo Credit: ANI
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday assured that his country’s land will not be used against India.
“I have assured the Indian leader that Sri Lanka will not allow its land to be used in any way that adversely affects India’s security and regional stability,” Sri Lanka said while speaking to reporters alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hyderabad House, the official meeting place.
India, who is on his first visit to New Delhi after winning the presidential and parliamentary elections, has promised Sri Lanka to continue aid and help solve its economic problems.
Briefing the media later, Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishra hinted that the Sri Lankan president’s remarks could affect Sri Lanka’s clearance for foreign ships, especially Chinese ships, to berth at Sri Lankan ports, which India has repeatedly raised concerns about. In January, Sri Lanka will complete a one-year ban on all foreign research vessels docking in its ports.
“We highlighted the role that India can play in many activities related to maritime security, maritime research, etc.,” Mr. Mishri said, indicating that India could offer to conduct research for Sri Lanka instead of inviting other navies to Indian Ocean waters. near the island. “We have pointed out the importance and sensitivity of our security interests in the region,” he added, highlighting that this was the first foreign visit of the recently elected Sri Lankan president.
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The two leaders said they discussed several issues including regional security, digital infrastructure, connectivity and energy projects as well as Tamil issues and fishing rights. India announced the conversion of loans to Sri Lanka for the railway signaling system and Kankesanthurai port and also extended a $20.66 million grant to settle payments for projects already signed under ‘letters of credit’ or loans. They agreed to continue partnership on energy projects, including connecting to a common grid, the India-Sri Lanka “multi-product pipeline” with the help of the United Arab Emirates, LNG supplies, as well as the completion of the much-delayed Sampur. The coal power project was first signed in 2011.
The statements, however, did not indicate any progress in discussing the issues surrounding the Adani Group’s projects, which are under review in Sri Lanka and face further setbacks after US investigators filed charges against the company. Adani’s bid to develop a terminal at Colombo port is now expected to go ahead with internal funding instead of funding from the US agency DFC, with the Dissanayake government saying it could block a 500 MW wind power project in Mannar’s northeastern regions. and Pooneryn. Notably, despite the company’s significant stake in Sri Lanka, no representative of Adani was listed among the participants at the “India-Srilanka Business Forum” organized by chambers of commerce CII, FICCI and Assocham in Delhi on Monday.
Additionally, Delhi and Colombo could not find common ground on the contentious issue of fishing, though they spoke of the need to deal with Indian fishermen, whom Sri Lanka accuses of encroaching on its waters, “humanely”. Mr. Dissanayake also called on India to reduce the use of “bottom trawlers” that deplete marine resources.
Modi also said that he discussed the issue of Tamil reconciliation and reconstruction in the war-torn north and east of Sri Lanka.
“President Dissanayake conveyed to me his inclusive perspective,” Modi said, adding that India hoped the Sri Lankan government would meet the aspirations of the Tamil people and fulfill its commitment to fully implement the Sri Lankan constitution and run provincial councils. election”.
In presidential elections in September and parliamentary elections in November, Mr. Dissanayake’s party, the JVP, won a record number of votes, and officials said the Sri Lankan president referred to his “mandate” on more than one occasion during talks with the Sri Lankan president. Modi.
“People from all provinces — North, South, East and West — representing different communities and different walks of life have contributed to this mandate. As a leader entrusted with such an important responsibility by my people, I clearly understand that the essence of democracy lies in the coexistence of diverse political views and groups,” Mr. Dissanayake said at a media briefing. However, none of the parties specifically mentioned devolution of power to the North Eastern provinces under 13.th In the past, the amendment of the constitution has always been discussed.
Discussing cooperation in the international arena, Mr. Dissanayake said that he has requested India to support Sri Lanka’s bid to join the enlarged BRICS group of emerging economies and India’s intervention in the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UNCLCS). The establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf outside the exclusive economic zone, which Sri Lanka has demanded. Asked about BRICS, Mr. Mishri said there is currently no consensus within BRICS which doubled to 10 member states last year, to include any members at present.
published – December 17, 2024 at 12:01 pm IST