On July 21, 2023, PM Narendra Modi announced that various projects worth 75 crores will be provided to the Indian Origin Tamils living in the island nation of Sri Lanka. The Prime Minister expressed confidence in Sri Lanka and said, “I am confident that Sri Lanka will keep working to fulfil the aspirations of the Tamil community.”
PM Modi said that the year 2023 will mark the 75th year of bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka and also 200 years since the Indian-origin Tamil community arrived in the island nation.
“I am confident that Sri Lanka will keep the aspirations of the Tamil people and community. This year we mark 75 years of relationship between India and Sri Lanka and 200 years since the Tamil community arrived in Sri Lanka. During the joint press meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, announced various projects worth 75 crores for the Indian Origin Tamils in Sri Lanka,” PM Modi tweeted.
PM Narendra Modi further wrote-“India will keep contributing to the development works in Northern and Eastern regions of Sri Lanka. To boost commercial people-to-people linkages, passenger ferry services will start between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthuria.”
In a joint statement released on July 20, 2023, PM Narendra Modi and President Wickremesinghe said, “We hope that the Sri Lankan government will fulfil the aspirations of Tamils and take forward the process for equality, peace, and justice. We hope it fulfils its commitment to the implementation of the 13th Amendment and Provincial Council Elections.”
The President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, arrived in New Delhi on July 20, 2023, as part of his official, two-day state visit. The Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, V Murleedhran, welcomed Wickremesinghe at the airport. On July 21, 2023, both nations signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) on cooperation in fields related to renewable energy.
Another MoU was signed on the cooperation for economic development projects in Trincomalee District of Sri Lanka. Apart from the MoUs, the two nations issued a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) in the field of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and network-to-network agreements between the NPCI-International Payments Limited and Lanka Pay for UPI (Unified Payments Interface) application acceptance in Sri Lanka.
An Energy Permit was issued for the Sampur Solar Power Project. PM Narendra Modi and Wickremesinghe discussed issues of mutual interest as well. The two countries also discussed common challenges they face, of which the most important activity to be mentioned is the aggressive Chinese (PLAN) forays in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
On last year’s economic crisis that hit Sri Lanka, Modi said, “Being a close friend, as always, we have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Sri Lanka in this hour of crisis.” Other areas of discussion included air connectivity, petroleum pipeline, and the construction of a land bridge between India and Sri Lanka. Matters related to reconstruction and reconciliation in Sri Lanka were other important issues that were deliberated by the leaders of India and Sri Lanka.
“PM Narendra Modi warmly welcomes President Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka in the Hyderabad House ahead of bilateral talks. An opportunity to review and lend momentum to the longstanding ties as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations this year,” Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry, said in a tweet.
The talks were held at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi. It is a place where high-level negotiations and talks between diplomats and foreign service dignitaries are conducted. To boost the economic partnership between the two nations,
India and Sri Lanka adopted a vision document that would strengthen people-to-people connectivity and embolden maritime cooperation along with trade and power, PM Modi announced on July 21, 2023.
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