President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, on a three-day official visit to India, held comprehensive discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 16 at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The visit marked a significant step in advancing the partnership between the two countries, encompassing economic, political, and strategic dimensions.
Key Agreements and Initiatives
- Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs):
- Avoidance of double taxation.
- Capacity building for Sri Lankan government officials.
- Economic and Infrastructure Development:
- Strengthening ties through electricity grid connections and a multi-product petroleum pipeline.
- Advancing Indian-funded projects such as upgrading the Anuradhapura railway signalling system and Kankesanthurai Port.
- Providing scholarships for 200 students from Jaffna and Eastern Province universities.
- Training 1,500 Sri Lankan civil servants over five years.
- Debt Restructuring:
- India’s ongoing support for Sri Lanka’s economic stability, including assistance in debt restructuring and emergency financing worth $4 billion.
- Finalizing a bilateral MoU on debt restructuring to shift towards investment-led partnerships.
- Energy Collaboration:
- Implementation of the Sampur solar power project and exploring offshore wind energy potential.
- Proposals for LNG supply and power grid interconnection.
- People-Centric Digitization:
- Expedited implementation of the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity (SLUDI) project.
- Rolling out UPI digital payments and exploring India-inspired systems like DigiLocker.
- Trade and Investment:
- Enhancing INR-LKR trade settlements and continuing discussions on the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA).
- Maritime and Security Cooperation:
- Strengthening collaboration in maritime security, disaster relief, and counterterrorism.
- Enhancing defence capabilities with joint exercises, equipment provision, and training programs.
- Cultural and Tourism Development:
- Promoting religious and cultural tourism and enhancing air connectivity between the two nations.
- Fisheries and Livelihood:
- Addressing fishermen’s concerns through humanitarian approaches and collaborative solutions.
- Regional Cooperation:
- Commitment to regional security frameworks under BIMSTEC and IORA.
- India’s support for Sri Lanka’s application to BRICS.
President Dissanayake emphasized Sri Lanka’s commitment to regional stability, ensuring its territory would not pose a security threat to India. Prime Minister Modi appreciated the enduring partnership and pledged continued support for Sri Lanka’s recovery and growth.
The leaders instructed their teams to expedite ongoing projects and finalize agreements to further deepen ties. President Dissanayake extended an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit Sri Lanka, highlighting the renewed commitment to a mutually beneficial partnership.
This visit heralds a forward-looking chapter in India-Sri Lanka relations, underscoring shared values and aspirations for regional prosperity.
