November 16, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Mahishini Colonne, has praised Gujarat’s development trajectory following a meeting with the state’s Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, noting that Sri Lankans have long watched Gujarat’s rise with interest.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Colonne highlighted the shared maritime character of both regions, remarking that their historic and geographical ties naturally lend themselves to deeper cooperation.
She conveyed the greetings of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Sri Lankan government, adding that Gujarat’s transformation—observed since the period when Narendra Modi served as Chief Minister—had often been viewed in Sri Lanka as an instructive example of economic progress. According to her, the “Gujarat model” had generated considerable attention among policymakers in Colombo.
Colonne went on to underline the longstanding links between Gujarat and Sri Lanka, noting that both possess extensive coastal traditions and rely heavily on maritime commerce. She observed that Sri Lanka’s ports play a crucial role in handling India’s transhipment cargo, a point that had also been underscored by Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya during her recent visit to India. At the time, the Prime Minister had suggested that Sri Lankan ports could serve as strategic gateways for India’s global trade routes.
Discussions between Colonne and the Chief Minister reportedly covered a range of potential collaborations, from textiles and pharmaceuticals to tourism and hospitality—sectors she described as ripe for investment and knowledge exchange.
A significant development during the Sri Lankan delegation’s visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Colonne said the agreement could mark the beginning of a “robust, forward-looking partnership” that would benefit both economies.
The MoU was formalised during an interactive session hosted by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with business leaders from both sides expressing optimism about new commercial avenues that may open in the months ahead.
