Won’t allow territory to be used against India: Sri Lanka’s assurance to PM Modi
For the first time, India and Sri Lanka on Saturday inked an ambitious defence cooperation pact following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The two sides also signed a pact to develop Trincomalee as an energy hub. Another agreement was inked to facilitate New Delhi’s multi-sectoral grant assistance to Sri Lanka’s eastern region.
Meanwhile, PM Modi was conferred with the ‘Mithra Vibhushana’ award by Sri Lankan President Dissanayake in recognition of his role in boosting bilateral ties.
The award, the highest civilian honour of the island nation, was instituted in February 2008 by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
“It is an honour for me to be awarded the Sri Lanka Mithra Vibhushana by President Dissanayake. It is also an honour for 1.4 billion Indians,” Modi said in his remarks.
“In every difficult situation, India stood with Sri Lanka– be it 2019 terror attack, Covid pandemic or recent economic crisis,” said the PM.
The Sri Lanka President also conveyed to PM Modi that India’s assistance to the island nation in times of need and continuing solidarity are deeply cherished.
Dissanayake assured PM Modi that Sri Lanka will not allow its territory to be used in manner inimical to India’s security interests.
PM Modi and President Dissanayake also virtually inaugurated the Sampur solar power project.
Several agreements were also firmed up between the two sides following the talks between the two leaders.
The talks were held a day after Modi arrived in the Sri Lankan capital after concluding his trip to Bangkok where he attended a summit of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation).
Ahead of the talks, Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the historic Independence Square in the heart of the Sri Lankan capital, in perhaps the first such honour given to a foreign leader.
President Dissanayake received the prime minister at the Square — the venue for national day celebrations and takes its name from the Independence Memorial Hall built to commemorate the island nation’s independence from British rule in 1948.
India