Won’t Allow Sri Lankan Land To Be Used Against India, Says Prez Dissanayake After Meet With PM Modi

New Delhi: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who held a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday, said his country won’t allow its land to be “used in any way in a manner that is detrimental to the interest of India.”

He made the statement while addressing the media after the bilateral meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. “The cooperation with India will certainly flourish and I want to reassure our continued support for India,” he added.

The Sri Lankan President is on 3-day India visit. This is first foreign trip after assuming office in September. He also expressed his happiness of being able to travel to India for his first state visit.

“I want to thank India for the invitation extended to me and also for the warm hospitality that was extended to the whole delegation, including myself. I want to thank PM Modi and President Murmu… This visit paved the way for the cooperation between the two countries to be developed further,” Dissanayake said.

The Sri Lankan President also stated that he was aware of the fact that his country secured a very significant place in the foreign policy of India. “PM Modi assured us full support and he also assured us that he will always protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka,” he added.

‘India has so far given $5 billion in line of credit and grant assistance to Sri Lanka’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed that New Delhi has so far provided $5 billion in line of credit and grant assistance to Sri Lanka. He added that during the bilateral talks, the two leaders decided that the grant assistance would be given for the rehabilitation of the signalling system of the Maho-Anuradhapura railway section and Kankesanthurai Port.

‘Humanitarian approach towards fishermen issue’

PM Modi said they had discussed issues related to the livelihood of fishermen. “We agreed that we should move forward with a humanitarian approach in this matter,” he said. “We also want to find a durable and sustainable solution to the fishermen’s issue that has become a plague for both our countries. There are bottom trawling systems being adopted by the fishermen in that area and that needs to be put an end to because that will spell doom to this industry,” the Sri Lankan President said.

Key takeaways of the bilateral meeting

• India to give monthly scholarships to 200 students in Sri Lanka

PM Modi announced that under education cooperation, from the next year, monthly scholarships will be given to 200 students in the      universities of Jaffna and Eastern Province.

• 1,500 civil servants of Sri Lanka to be trained in India

In the next 5 years, 1500 civil servants of Sri Lanka will be trained in India, the Prime Minister declared.

• Cooperation in agriculture, fisheries and dairy sectors

“Along with housing, renewable energy and infrastructure, India will also cooperate for the development of agriculture, dairy and fisheries in Sri Lanka. India will also participate in the unique digital identity project in Sri Lanka,” PM Modi said.

• India-Sri Lanka Defence Cooperation Agreement soon

PM Modi said soon India and Sri Lanka would finalise the Defence Cooperation Agreement.

“We completely agree that our security interests are interlinked. We have decided to finalise the Defence Cooperation Agreement soon. Cooperation on hydrography has also been agreed upon. We believe that the Colombo Security Conclave is an important platform for regional peace, security and development. Under this, cooperation will be enhanced on topics like maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber-security, fight against smuggling and organised crime, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” the Prime Minister said.

• Soon ferry service between Rameswaram and Talaimannar

“We have decided that after the successful launch of Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai ferry services, now ferry service will be started between Rameswaram in India and Talaimannar,” PM Modi said.