Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday assured India that his country would not be allowed to be used for “any activity” that could pose a threat to India’s security, as he called Foreign Secretary Harsh a “widespread”. way” about Colombo’s relations with China. Exchanged views with him on a range of issues including Vardhan Shringla and the subsequent revival of the economy.
Foreign Secretary Shringla called on President Rajapaksa before concluding his four-day visit to the island nation to review bilateral ties. The meeting took place a day after the president returned from the US after attending the United Nations General Assembly.
“Sri Lanka shall not be permitted to be used for any activity which may endanger the security of India,” a release issued by the President said.
Rajapaksa “explained the nature of Sri Lanka’s relations with China in a comprehensive manner and informed the Indian Foreign Secretary that there was no doubt about it.”
China is expanding its presence in Sri Lanka, investing billions of dollars in various infrastructure projects, including ports.
Beijing is also providing financial aid to Sri Lanka as its economy struggles under the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sri Lanka is also important for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), an ambitious infrastructure project aimed at expanding the country’s influence and global trade links.
A strategic port that was built by Chinese companies in Hambantota – which Sri Lanka has not been able to repay and therefore handed over to Beijing on a 99-year lease in 2017 – has increased Beijing’s presence on the island. India is also concerned about China’s plan to build a new city with Chinese money on the coast of Colombo on the reclaimed land.
Rajapaksa told Shringla that Indian investors have been invited to invest in the island and that Sri Lanka is keen to resolve the situation regarding the Trincomalee oil tanks in a way that is beneficial to both countries, a release from the President’s Office said. stated in the release.
The World War II-era oil storage facility in Trincomalee’s strategically advantageous port district has been a key bilateral economic partnership link for decades.
Since 2003, Lanka IOC, a Sri Lankan subsidiary of India’s leading oil company Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), has leased rights to 99 tanks for a period of 35 years for an annual payment of USD 100,000.
The visit to Shringla’s site on Sunday assumes significance as oilfield trade unions in Sri Lanka have demanded that the tanks be brought under the control of state fuel arm Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC).
Earlier, President Rajapaksa tweeted that he had a fruitful discussion with Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
“Agreed on the need to strengthen the enduring bond between the two countries. I invited Indian investors to visit #Sri Lanka while we discussed tourism, power generation and the revival of the post-pandemic economy,” he said.
Earlier, in a tweet detailing the meeting, the High Commission of India (HCI) here said, “They reaffirmed the strong ties of friendship and cooperation between India and Sri Lanka and discussed ways to take forward this comprehensive partnership at all levels.” Of. .”
The Sri Lankan President elaborated on the need to re-establish the friendship and ties between India and Sri Lanka that existed in the 1960s and 70s.
President Rajapaksa said he looked forward to India’s support in taking forward the 1971 resolution to declare the Indian Ocean a peace zone.
The long-standing problems of the fishermen of both the countries can be solved by identifying immediate solutions to the existing problems and providing appropriate benefits to the fishermen community, a release from the President’s Office said.
On India’s concerns over the 13th amendment, Rajapaksa said there is an urgent need to understand the weaknesses and strengths of the 13th amendment.
Shringla, in his meetings with Tamil minority parties, had emphasized Indian commitment to the 13th Amendment as a means of bringing about reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
India has consistently called upon Sri Lanka to fulfill its commitments to safeguard the interests of the Tamil community and preserve the character of the island nation as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.
The 13th Amendment provides for the transfer of power to the Tamil community. India has been pressuring Sri Lanka to implement the 13th Amendment which was brought in after the 1987 India-Sri Lanka accord.
A release from the Indian High Commission said the Foreign Secretary underscored the importance of swiftly pursuing mutually beneficial projects, including proposals to enhance air and sea connectivity between India and Sri Lanka.
He thanked the President for his guidance and close cooperation in the field of defense and security.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday, Shringla noted that India-Sri Lanka ties are based on vibrant people-to-people ties, which were required to sign an inter-governmental MoU for Buddhist grants of USD 15 million. will be further strengthened.
Shringla noted that the Government of India looks forward to welcoming the inaugural flight from Sri Lanka to Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, which will further strengthen the cultural ties between the two countries.
Recalling India’s strong cultural and civilizational ties with Jaffna, he said India would support the Sri Lankan government for the maintenance of the Jaffna Cultural Center built with Indian grant-in-aid, the release said.
Shringla’s meeting with Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa focused on the strong economic and commercial ties between India and Sri Lanka.
In this regard, both sides agreed to make progress on joint projects, including loans and grants-in-aid from the Government of India.
Shringla met External Affairs Minister GL Peiris and his Sri Lankan counterpart Admiral (Retd) Prof.
Jaynath Colombes discussed all areas of mutual interest, including the need to face the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic together to mitigate its economic impact.
The IHC statement said, “The extensive and heated discussions that took place during the Foreign Secretary’s meetings with all interlocutors and the joint inauguration of development cooperation projects will give further impetus to the close, friendly and mutually beneficial relations between India and Sri Lanka. will do.”
Officials said that in all his programmes, Shringla underscored India’s desire to advance economic and commercial ties between the two countries and stressed on post-pandemic economic recovery by pursuing joint projects of mutual benefit.
The Indian High Commission said the foreign secretary’s visit was “productive”, with notable engagements in Colombo, Kandy, Trincomalee and Jaffna.
The Foreign Secretary also interacted with the officials of the Indian High Commission in the mission premises on Tuesday.
“Team HCI is truly grateful for their words of encouragement and support,” IHC said in another tweet.
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