Friday Dec 13, 2024
Friday Dec 13, 2024
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President Ranil Wickremesinghe
President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said that history has brought India and Sri Lanka together like two sides of the same coin and the two countries must forge ahead together.
The President made this observation during an event to receive the Dornier 228 Reconnaissance aircraft to Sri Lanka by India in the presence of Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay.
The President called for both countries to commit to further strengthening their relationship as India and Sri Lanka share many commonalities and the two countries have to build on it.
Addressing the gathering, the President emphasised on the importance of ties between the two countries. “I have always said that we are two sides of a single coin. It is not possible to split a coin for one face to fall one way and the other face to fall the other way. For whatever it is, history has put us together and we have to stay together.
“What is this relationship? I haven’t got a word for it, but the closest I could come is the symbiotic relationship between the two countries. We are both marking our 75th anniversaries. I say let us commit ourselves to further strengthening our relationships.”
The first ever Dornier Reconnaissance Aircraft from India to enhance the maritime surveillance capabilities of Sri Lanka was inducted to Sri Lanka Air Force Fleet in a ceremonial procession.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe was welcomed at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in Katunayake by Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sudharshana Pathirana. The President was also accorded a special Guard of Honour by the Air Force troops.
Giving a word of advice to aspiring politicians in Sri Lanka, the President said: “My word of advice to rising politicians and those who aspire for higher office, is get to know your Indian colleagues, get to know them well and get to deal with them because if you do not do that, it will be difficult for you to look at issues and understand what each other says.”
“We have common viewpoints in many areas. We are but a small country in the middle of the ocean, while India, while looking after its own interests must also look at its role as a global power. But it is essential that we speak to them. After all India is our closest neighbour and there are many issues that are common to us of which we are understanding, of which we have to resolve.
“Not only issues pertaining to Indo-Lanka relations but to the region and to the world. So, in these areas it is possible for us, and it has been on many occasions for us to come to an agreement or have a similar viewpoint with India. It is with those that we consolidate,” President said.
Congratulating India on its 75th Anniversary of independence, President Wickremesinghe noted: “India today is becoming a world power and it is still on the rise and by the mid-century when we are no longer there, you could see a powerful India playing a dominant role on the global stage.”
- Pix by Ruwan Walpola
