On December 16, India and Sri Lanka signed important Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in New Delhi.
In a joint press conference, PM Modi emphasized India’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s development, noting that India has extended $5 billion in line of credit to the country.
PM Modi underlined the deep cultural connections between India and Sri Lanka, stating, “The people-to-people relations between our nations are intertwined with our civilizational ties.
The recognition of Pali as a ‘Classical Language’ was celebrated in both India and Sri Lanka.”
Key initiatives announced included:
– India will assist in the rehabilitation of the Maho
-Anuradhapura railway signaling system and the Kankesanthurai port
– Starting next year, monthly scholarships will be awarded to 200 students from the universities in Jaffna and the Eastern Province
– Over the next five years, 1,500 civil servants from Sri Lanka will receive training in India
– In addition to housing, renewable energy, and infrastructure, India will also collaborate with Sri Lanka in sectors like agriculture, dairy, and fisheries
– India will engage in Sri Lanka’s unique digital identity project
– Efforts will be made to establish electrical grid connectivity and multi-product petroleum pipelines, with India planning to supply liquefied natural gas to Sri Lankan power facilities
– A ferry service will be initiated between Rameshwaram and Talaimanar to enhance connectivity between the two countries. This visit marks President Dissanayake’s first trip abroad since he took office in September.
