Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said on Monday that his country’s territory will not be used for any activities harmful to India. He said this after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi.
The two leaders held a bilateral meeting at Hyderabad House, where Dissanayake expressed his gratitude to India for helping Sri Lanka during its “unprecedented economic crisis” two years ago. Prime Minister Modi said that India has helped Sri Lanka through loans and grants worth about US$ 4 billion.
Prime Minister Modi said he had discussed “reconciliation and reconstruction” in the neighboring country and hoped the Sri Lankan government would fulfill the aspirations of the Tamil minority.
Dissanayake, who reached Delhi on Sunday evening, is on a state visit to India from Sunday to Tuesday. Prime Minister Modi said that this is President Dissanayake’s first visit to India after the recently concluded presidential and parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka.
Dissanayake also met President Draupadi Murmu. The newly elected President of Sri Lanka will attend a business event in Delhi and then visit Bodh Gaya.
Both sides have signed agreements on non-double taxation and capacity building and training.
PM Modi said the visit added new momentum and energy to the bilateral relationship, and that they would work on “investment-led growth” and a “vision of the future” that includes physical, digital and energy connectivity.
They also discussed the Sampur solar power project, railway connectivity within Sri Lanka, ferry and flight services between the two countries, digital identity projects and education as well as defense agreements and hydrography work. Dissanayake said a “sustainable” and “sustainable solution” to the fishing problem should be found.
Modi flagged the importance of maritime security, cyber security and counter-terrorism among the issues to be discussed through the Colombo Security Conclave Mechanism. Ramayana Circuit and Buddha Circuit were also discussed between them about visiting each other’s countries.
“President Dissanayake’s visit to India will further strengthen the multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries,” an MEA spokesperson said on Friday.
The fact that Dissanayake’s first foreign visit to India after taking office indicates that Sri Lanka’s new president – who overthrew traditional political parties ruled by the political elite – is on the hook for the relationship.
Dissanayake is accompanied by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayanth Fernando. The invitation to visit New Delhi was extended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who visited Colombo a fortnight after Dissanayake’s victory. Jaishankar was the first foreign minister to visit Sri Lanka after the Dissanayake-led National People’s Power (NPP) government came to power on September 23.
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