Modi’s visit expected to provide further momentum to India-Sri Lanka relationship

President Maithripala Sirisena last night hosted a dinner in honour of visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Leader of the Opposition R. Sampanthan, Chief Minister of the Northern Province C.V. Wigneswaran and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera were among those present

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived yesterday in Sri Lanka on a two-day visit on the invitation of President Maithripala Sirisena to participate as the Chief Guest in the International Day of Vesak celebrations.

Sri Lanka is hosting the United Nations International Day of Vesak for the first time this year from 12-14 May under the theme ‘Buddhist Teachings for Social Justice and Sustainable World Peace’.

Various religious leaders and political leaders from various countries, especially those with a strong Buddhist tradition, have been invited and they will be in attendance at the two-day event.

Joint Secretary (Indian Ocean Region) at the External Affairs Ministry Sanjay Panda said the Prime Minister’s visit to Sri Lanka assumes special significance because this is a reflection of the shared Buddhist heritage of the two countries spanning centuries.

“This also reflects the importance that we attach to this relationship with Sri Lanka,” he said, adding that India hopes the International Vesak Day Sri Lanka is hosting will be a grand success.

Apart from participating in the International Vesak celebrations in Colombo, Prime Minister Modi will also visit Kandy where he will visit the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth). He will also seek the blessings of the Chief Prelates there.

Thereafter, the Indian Premier will unveil a plaque during the laying of the foundation stone for the Faculty of Kandyan Dance which is to be constructed in the Sri Lankan Buddhist Academy in Pallekele with grant assistance from the Indian Government.

Prime Minister Modi will also be travelling to the plantations in upcountry Sri Lanka. This is the first time an Indian Prime Minister will be visiting the upcountry plantations.

The Indian Premier will be inaugurating a 150-bed multi-specialty hospital in Dickoya where most inhabitants are Indian-origin Tamils. The hospital, with quarters for the staff, is built with the assistance of the Indian Government at a cost of Rs. 50 crore.

The project is part of India’s overall development cooperation assistance since 2005, a commitment of up to $ 2.6 billion of which about $ 450 million has been provided through grants.

Apart from these activities, India is also participating in the International Buddhist Film Festival and other activities.

The spokesman said the Prime Minister is not expected to sign any agreements or engage in any formal meetings during the visit. However, he will be interacting with Sri Lankan leaders on the sidelines of the Vesak Day celebrations.

Noting that India’s relations with Sri Lanka in recent years have seen a “qualitative transformation”, the spokesman said the renewed momentum has been further perpetuated by a number of high level visits of top leaders of both countries.

The spokesperson said both countries were working together to strengthen and diversify the relationship between them.

“We are very optimistic as we hope that there will be progress in several areas, particularly in economic cooperation as we also look forward to signing the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) which is at an advanced stage,” he said.

“Our approach to Sri Lanka is part of our overall ‘Neighborhood First’ policy and we believe that our destinies are somehow intertwined. That is the importance we attach to this relationship. We hope the Prime Minister’s visit will provide further momentum to this,” he said.