3 weeks ago
Misri holds talks with Sri Lankan President on bilateral projects
A very important person from India, called the Foreign Secretary, visited Sri Lanka.
His name is Vikram Misri.
He met the President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in the capital city of Colombo.
The meeting was about helping each other and working together on big projects.
The two countries decided to keep talking about making their trade agreement better.
They also agreed to sign a special agreement about social security for workers very soon.
India is giving money to help Sri Lanka rebuild after a big cyclone called Ditwah.
India also asked Sri Lanka to hold elections for Provincial Councils soon.
The leaders talked about helping Tamil people in Sri Lanka and about fishermen whose boats are held by Sri Lanka.
India kindly asked Sri Lanka to release the fishermen and their boats, and both sides said they were happy with the progress.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo on a day-long visit on Wednesday.
India and Sri Lanka agreed to advance negotiations on updating their Free Trade Agreement and welcomed the conclusion of India-Sri Lanka Social Security Agreement negotiations.
Agreements were exchanged on two INR-denominated Lines of Credit totalling USD 350 million, part of India's USD 450 million Cyclone Ditwah reconstruction package.
India called on Sri Lanka to hold Provincial Council elections at the earliest and fully implement constitutional provisions to meet the aspirations of the Tamil people.
Discussions covered energy, digital identity, harbour and ambulance projects, and India requested Sri Lanka's cooperation for the early release of fishermen and boats detained in Sri Lanka.
- Who
- Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa
- What
- Talks on bilateral projects, updating the Free Trade Agreement, the Social Security Agreement, and exchange of Lines of Credit agreements for cyclone reconstruction
- Where
- Colombo, Sri Lanka
- When
- Wednesday, during a day-long visit
- Why
- To review key bilateral and assisted development projects and strengthen the India-Sri Lanka development partnership
Key facts
- Visit
- Day-long visit by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Colombo
- Lines of Credit exchanged
- USD 350 million (INR-denominated)
- Reconstruction package
- USD 450 million extended by India after Cyclone Ditwah
- Railway Line of Credit
- USD 250 million
- Livestock and priority Line of Credit
- USD 100 million
- Grant for damaged houses and permanent bridges
- USD 100 million
- Kankesanthurai harbour rehabilitation grant
- USD 61.5 million
- Social Security Agreement
- Negotiations concluded; expected to be signed soon
Sources
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