Ranil meets Modi

• Talks centre on fast-tracking development programs, SL says dedicated to resolving bottlenecks 
• Power, IT and food security sectors discussed, PM praised for deepening relations 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday met his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in New Delhi with talks between the two leaders focusing on power, IT and food security. 

 Wickremesinghe arrived on a two-day visit to New Delhi on 22 November to discuss bilateral and regional issues with the Indian leadership. Wickremesinghe and Modi had cordial discussions on a range of subjects including gaining Indian assistance and expertise to develop Tamil and Sinhala language software for a tab, which the Sri Lankan Government plans to distribute to all students, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. The proposal to distribute tabs to students was included in the previous Budget.

“Policies on energy and food security were also discussed,” the statement added. “Prime Minister Modi also discussed the challenges of delivering rapid development to meet youth aspirations and the challenges in achieving growth in a short period of time.”

Both sides also talked of fast-tracking development programs already earmarked during previous engagement with Modi, pointing out that these efforts would increase employment opportunities in Sri Lanka. In response Prime Minister Wickremesinghe assured that the Sri Lankan Government was dedicated to taking the ventures forward and issues that have cropped up over implementation would be speedily resolved. 

Modi had also praised the efforts made by Wickremesinghe to foster relations between the two countries. People to people ties between the two countries should also be fostered, both sides had agreed, the statement said.  

“Neighbourhood first. PM @narendramodi received Sri Lankan PM @RW_UNP at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, both countries share strong and close relations based on mutual trust and respect,” tweeted spokesman of the Indian Foreign Ministry Raveesh Kumar.

Earlier in the day, Wickremesinghe attended the fifth edition of the Global Conference on Cyber Space, inaugurated by Modi, in the Indian capital. He will later call on Indian President Ram Nath Kovind at the presidential palace.

India and Sri Lanka have centuries-old ethnic and cultural bonds, but these frayed amid New Delhi’s support for Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority during the island nation’s 26-year civil war, which ended in 2009. Tensions have eased over the years.