COLOMBO : President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who is currently on an official visit to Sri Lanka, at the Presidential Secretariat this Tuesday afternoon on August (05).
The discussions focused extensively on the strong and longstanding relationship between Sri Lanka and India, with both sides exchaànging views on further strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The President expressed his appreciation to the Government of India for the assistance extended to Sri Lanka during the economic crisis in 2022/2023, the humanitarian assistance provided during the Ditwah disaster, support extended towards infrastructure reconstruction efforts, and particularly the assistance provided to meet Sri Lanka’s energy requirements during the crisis situation in the Middle East.
The current progress of development projects being implemented in Sri Lanka with Indian assistance was also reviewed, while attention was drawn to proposed projects planned for implementation in the future.
Highlighting the Government’s efforts to eliminate the threat of illicit drugs, President Dissanayake stated that Sri Lanka requires India’s support in this endeavour and expressed the expectation of India’s fullest cooperation in combating drug trafficking, which has become a regional challenge.
The importance of regional cooperation among countries in addressing the challenges posed by climate change was also emphasised during the meeting.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri expressed appreciation for the programmes currently being implemented by Sri Lanka towards economic and social development. He also assured that necessary measures would be taken to provide India’s fullest support to Sri Lanka’s efforts to eliminate the threat of illicit drugs.
Discussions also focused on further strengthening cooperation between the two countries in areas including technology, energy and trade, in a manner that would deliver mutual benefits to both nations.
Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, Deputy High Commissioner Maitrey Kulkarni and other members of the Indian delegation participated in the meeting. Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando, Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Chief of staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma, and Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja were also present.
