India renews support for Sri Lanka

Thursday, 14 August 2014 00:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Giant neighbour documents $ 1.3 b post-war support to Sri Lanka with new brochure

By Sarah Hannan India yesterday renewed its commitment to the sustenance of peace and development in Sri Lanka as the giant neighbour documented over $ 1.3 billion in post-war support. “As Sri Lanka strives towards a peaceful future, the Government and the people of India remain committed to assist Sri Lanka in its endeavours of rehabilitation, reconstruction and reconciliation,” Indian High Commissioner Y.K. Sinha said yesterday at the launch of brochure titled ‘India and Sri Lanka: A partnership that transcends time’ with Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

“India and Sri Lanka share a dynamic and multifaceted bilateral relationship that is rooted in close social, economic, cultural, educational, religious ties and people-to-people interactions," he said. " The relationship has now blossomed to encompass all areas of contemporary relevance,” Sinha added. The brochure provides a glimpse into the extensive and multi-sectoral development cooperation partnership between India and Sri Lanka, which has expanded significantly since the end of the armed conflict in 2009. Addressing the gathering, High Commissioner Sinha stated that the brochure has been aptly titled, and sums up the development cooperation partnership between the two countries. He said: “The nature of India’s assistance, which commenced a year before the armed conflict came to an end, has evolved and expanded since the end of the conflict. The India Housing Project which involves the construction of 50,000 houses with a commitment of over $ 270 million is considered to be the flagship project of our grant assistance in Sri Lanka. The pilot project saw the completion of 1,000 houses in the Northern Province and the rest of the 49,000 houses will be constructed in North, East, Central and Uva Provinces. India’s portfolio of development projects now encompasses all major sectors of the economy, including housing, infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, fisheries, industry, handicrafts, culture and sports, and the overall program amounts up to $ 1.3 billion.” The High Commissioner also said India’s development partnership with Sri Lanka is unique, built on the foundations of political understanding, shared socio-cultural links, and geographical proximity, and is based on cooperative implementation with agencies of the Government of Sri Lanka. The first copy of the brochure was handed over to High Commissioner of India Y.K. Sinha by Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa. Various stakeholders, institutions, agencies and officials who have been instrumental in the successful implementation of the Indian projects in Sri Lanka, were also present at the occasion.

President again orders release of all Indian fishermen in honour of India’s Independence Day

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday ordered the release of all Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody. The President has given the order on the occasion of India’s Independence Day, which is observed on 15 August, a message on his official Twitter account said. A total of 93 fishermen from Tamil Nadu are in Sri Lanka custody currently. Sri Lanka has released 225 Indian fishermen since the Modi government came into power in May this year. Late last month Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the PM to take immediate steps to get all 93 fishermen released along with 62 boats that were confiscated by the Sri Lankan Government.