COLOMBO: Indian high commissioner Gopal Baglay said here on Friday that Sri Lanka is India’s twin brother.
The envoy was speaking at an iftar party hosted by him at Taj Samudra Hotel on Friday in Colombo.
The heavily attended event the evening event was attended by officials and members of the Islamic community in the island.
Among the guests were Finance Minister Ali Sabry,Bangladesh high commissioner Tareq Mohd.Ariful Islam, Jamiyyathul Ulama President Ash Sheikh Rizvie Mufhti, diplomats,religious scholars and community leaders and former ministers. Such as Rishad Bathiudeen, Faiszer Mustapha, Ali Zahir Mowlana and Mastan were also present.
Speaking further, the Indian envoy said that the two countries are bound together by India’s neighborhood policy and common heritage.” We have been helping each other for a long time and India will continue to help Lanka in all possible avenues.
India gives due place for Islam and Muslim community, Baglay said,recalling the first mosque was built in the state of Kerala some 1,500 years ago.
Rizvie Mufthi who spoke on the significance of the holy month of Ramadan said India has been with Lanka in good and bad times.” We wish India should extend more humanitarian, economical and cultural support to build a prosperous Sri Lanka maintaining the sovereignty of the parliament,: he added.
