External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in New Delhi on Sunday (December 15, 2024). Photo Credit: ANI
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held “fruitful” discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval after starting his three-day visit to India on Sunday.
This is Dissanayake’s first foreign visit after assuming the office of President. He will hold wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday that are expected to focus on enhancing bilateral engagement in the areas of trade, investment, energy and maritime security.
In separate discussions with Mr. Jaishankar and Mr. Doval, issues relating to the overall bilateral relationship were considered, including ways to expand strategic ties between the two neighboring countries.
New Delhi has been saying that the development of the two countries needs to work together keeping in mind each other’s security interests and sensitivities.
“Had a fruitful discussion tonight with @DrSJaishankar and Mr. Ajit Doval on matters of mutual interest,” Mr. Dissanayake said in a post on X.
There were no official details about the discussion apart from the Sri Lankan leader’s post.
In the delegation-level talks between Mr. Modi and Mr. Dissanayake, the Indian side is also likely to convey to the Sri Lankan leader from Colombo in New Delhi its expectations of meeting the aspirations of the Tamil community in the island nation.
The Tamil community in Sri Lanka has been demanding the implementation of the 13th Amendment which provides for the transfer of power. The 13th Amendment was introduced after the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement of 1987.
At the talks, India is likely to reiterate its commitment to help strengthen Sri Lanka’s economy.
Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs L Murugan welcoming Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in New Delhi. | Photo credit: PTI
Earlier, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan welcomed Dissanayake.
In a post on X, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Mr. Dissanayake’s visit will be an opportunity to deepen India-Sri Lanka ties and accelerate people-centric partnership.
“A warm and special welcome!” He said with a photo welcoming Union Minister Dissanayake
The Sri Lankan leader will also meet President Draupadi Murmu.
Mr. Dissanayake is scheduled to attend a business event in Delhi to promote investment and business ties between India and Sri Lanka.
He also plans to visit Bodh Gaya.
Sri Lanka is India’s closest maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean region and is central to Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Sagar’ (security and growth for all in the region) and India’s ‘neighbourhood first’ policy, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.
“President Dissanayake’s visit to India is expected to further strengthen the multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries,” the statement said.
Issues related to maritime security cooperation are likely to come up during Mr. Dissanayake’s visit, people familiar with the matter said.
India is expanding its overall defense and strategic ties with Sri Lanka amid concerns over China’s efforts to increase its military presence in the Indian Ocean.
In August 2022, the docking of the Chinese missile and satellite tracking ship ‘Yuan Wang’ at the Hambantota port sparked a diplomatic row between India and Sri Lanka.
Another Chinese warship docked at the Colombo port in August last year.
India has been supporting various capacity-building measures for the Sri Lankan Defense Forces, including the provision of indigenously built offshore patrol vessels.
published – Dec 16, 2024 at 02:02 pm IST