New Indian envoy calls on Prime Minister; renews support for SL

Thursday, 28 May 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The new Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay paid his first call on Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees in Colombo yesterday.

The meeting coincided with the 50th anniversary of the election of Prime Minister Rajapaksa to Parliament. High Commissioner Baglay conveyed the good wishes of the Indian leadership during the occasion.

The Prime Minister warmly recalled his interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi since their first formal engagement exactly six years ago at the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi on 26 May 2014. He also fondly recalled his latest State visit to India in February.

Baglay stated that he had come with a mandate to deepen India-Sri Lanka bilateral relations and also to expand their close cooperation. He reiterated India’s commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with Sri Lanka in addressing the challenges posed by COVID-19 and in post-COVID economic recovery. Towards this end, food security, health security, IT cooperation, tourism exchanges, development cooperation partnership, and greater investment flows were identified as priority areas.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa recalled this long-standing relationship with the people and Government of India. He reiterated his belief that the bilateral relationship would become stronger with the addition of new areas of cooperation.

He agreed with High Commissioner Baglay that the shared Buddhist heritage and links between India and Sri Lanka provide a platform for robust people-to-people engagement and for bringing the two peoples closer together.

He said that he would instruct his relevant officials to consult with the High Commission to further develop such cooperation.

The High Commissioner also conveyed the sincere condolences of the Government of India on the sad and untimely demise of Arumugan Thondaman.