New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe held “productive and outcome-oriented talks” at Hyderabad House here, after which the two nations signed four agreements, including one “to make the Sri Lankan port of Trincomalee a regional hub for industry and energy”.
The two sides also said they will boost economic ties and connectivity, including proposed connection of power grids and conducting feasibility studies on a possible petrol pipeline from southern India to Sri Lanka as well as a land bridge connecting the two nations to provide land access to Trincomalee and Colombo ports.
The idea of a land bridge was proposed by Sri Lanka, New Delhi said.
Both countries also released an economic vision document and will engage in talks on a proposed Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) that is expected to be an upgraded version of an existing free trade pact between the two nations. It was also decided to start passenger ferry services between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and KankeSanthurai in Sri Lanka.
It was also agreed to launch the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) digital payment platform of India in Sri Lanka.
Modi mentioned how India had stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Sri Lanka even at the peak of the island nation’s economic crisis, adding that a “stable, secure and prosperous Sri Lanka is not only in India's interest, but in the interest of the entire Indian Ocean region”.
President Wickremesinghe thanked India for its humanitarian and development assistance to his country and expressed his “profound appreciation” for the help in such a challenging period. Foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said at a special MEA media briefing later that an “overwhelming chunk” of the $4 billion (over Rs 32,000 crores) of Indian assistance to Sri Lanka has “already been disbursed”. The island nation suffered a dramatic economic collapse last year, after which President Wickremesinghe had taken over as President to take his country towards economic recovery.
With the increasing Chinese naval footprints in the region, Modi also raised India’s security concerns and said it was “essential we (two nations) work together keeping in mind each other’s safety and sensitivities”.
The foreign secretary said the two leaders had a “comprehensive stock-taking assessment of challenges in the maritime domain” and on “shared challenges that both sides will monitor”.
In a major development, Modi pressed for devolution of powers to Sri Lankan Tamils in the form of implementation of the 13th Amendment so that Sri Lankan Tamils can also live with respect and dignity as equals in the island nation.
The Sri Lankan President pledged that his economic reform policies and devolution of powers with “justice and equity” would benefit all Sri Lankans across his country, and mentioned the northern development plan in this context, adding that Modi had expressed solidarity with him.
The four agreements signed were: a 'Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) in the field of Animal Husbandry and Dairying,' an MoU on cooperation in renewable energy, a Memorandum of Cooperation for economic development projects in the Trincomalee district of Sri Lanka, and a Network to Network Agreement between NIPL and Lanka Pay for UPI application acceptance in Sri Lanka.
Additionally, an 'Energy Permit for the Sampur Solar Power Project' in Sri Lanka was also part of the agreements."
Modi said: “Today we have adopted a vision document for our economic partnership.This vision is to strengthen the maritime, air, energy and people-to-people connectivity between the people of both countries. The vision is to accelerate mutual cooperation in tourism, power, trade, higher education and skill development. This is the vision --of India's long-term commitment towards Sri Lanka. We have decided that talks on the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement will be started soon. This will open new possibilities of trade and economic cooperation for both the countries… We agreed to enhance air connectivity between India and Sri Lanka.”
Welcoming the Sri Lankan President, Modi said: “I warmly welcome President Wickremesinghe and his delegation to India.Today, President Wickremesinghe is completing one year in office… I convey my heartiest greetings to him. The past one year has been full of challenges for the people of Sri Lanka.As a close friend, like always, we stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Sri Lanka in this hour of crisis. And I heartily congratulate the people of Sri Lanka for the courage with which they faced these challenging circumstances.
He added: “Our ties are as ancient and extensive as our civilisations. Sri Lanka has an important place in both India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR’ vision. Today we shared our views on bilateral, regional and international issues. We believe that the security interests and development of India and Sri Lanka are inter-twined. And therefore, it is essential that we work together keeping in mind each other’s safety and sensitivities.”
Pushing for the welfare of Sri Lankan Tamils, Modi said: “We hope that the Government of Sri Lanka will fulfill the aspirations of Tamils, will drive the process of rebuilding for equality, justice and peace, will fulfill its commitment to implement the Thirteenth Amendment and conduct the provincial council elections, and will ensure a life of respect and dignity for the Tamil community of Sri Lanka… We also talked about reconstruction and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. President Wickremesinghe told me about his inclusive approach.”
On the issue of fishermen, including Indian Tamil fishermen who are often arrested by the Sri Lankan authorities for trespassing into Sri Lankan waters, the PM said: “Today we also discussed issues related to the livelihood of fishermen. We agree that we should proceed with a humane approach in this matter.”
A bilateral economic vision joint document titled “Promoting Connectivity, Catalysing Prosperity: India-Sri Lanka Economic Partnership Vision” stated: “The leaders acknowledged that the India-Sri Lanka partnership has been a source of strength in overcoming economic difficulties faced by Sri Lanka and the President of Sri Lanka specially appreciated India’s timely, unprecedented, and crucial support to the government and the people of Sri Lanka. Both leaders reiterated their firm commitment to, and confidence in democracy, stability and economic recovery in Sri Lanka, and stressed the significance of India’s continued support and investment for sustainable, equitable and stable growth which will benefit all segments of Sri Lankan society in all parts of the country, and also promote reconciliation.”
On trade, it said: “That decision to designate INR as currency for trade settlements between the two countries has forged stronger and mutually-beneficial commercial linkages, and agreed to operationalise UPI-based digital payments for further enhancing trade and transactions between businesses and common people.”
