Modi, Lanka PM Discuss Entire Gamut Of Bilateral Ties

India and Sri Lanka agreed to speed up implementation of development projects in the island nation and deepen their “historic ties” during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Wickremesinghe, who arrived here on Wednesday on a three-day visit, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Saturday, when they held delegation-level talks. In a statement after the visit, an MEA statement said, the leaders “discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations... and exchanged views on regional and global issues. They also reviewed the progress in implementation of various decisions taken during high level exchanges.”

Neither side highlighted any specific project, but officials familiar with the meeting said all projects underway were discussed. This would include a recent decision to award a housing project in Jaffna to India after taking it away from a Chinese group.

India is also involved in building airports in Palaly, a port in Kankesanthurai and one of the container terminals in Colombo and a lease of Mattala airport near the Chinese-controlled Hambantota port.

PM Modi tweeted, he and Wickremasinghe “had fruitful discussions, reviewing various aspects of India-Sri Lanka cooperation.” In a discussion on fishermen, Modi expressed gratitude for the release of fishermen who had been apprehended, said officials.

Earlier in the day, Union home minister Rajnath Singh, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, and national security adviser Ajit Doval, also separately called on the visiting Lankan leader.

Courtesy: Times of India: 21st Oct, 2018