Narendra Modi announces financial assistance of U.S $ 450 million to Sri Lanka
The Prime Minister of India – Narendra Modi has today, i.e., Friday, November 29, 2019, announced to provide financial assistance of U.S. $ 400 million to Sri Lanka for the development of the island nation.
In addition, he has also announced to provide U.S. $ 50 million to Sri Lanka for fighting the increasing menace of terrorism.
The announcement was made after the newly elected President of Sri Lanka – Gotabaya Rajapaksa, arrived in New Delhi today for a 3-day visit from November 29 – December 1, 2019. This is Rajapaksa’s first overseas tour after he took over the reins of Sri Lanka on November 18, 2019.
The President of India – Ram Nath Kovind accorded Rajapaksa with a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.
Modi welcomed Rajapaksa with a tweet which read, “Happy to receive @GotabayaR on his first overseas visit as the President of Sri Lanka. His visit is a testimony to the time-tested ties between India and Sri Lanka and will help strengthen our bonds as well as energise our partnership.”
Happy to receive @GotabayaR on his first overseas visit as the President of Sri Lanka.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 29, 2019
His visit is a testimony to the time-tested ties between India and Sri Lanka and will help strengthen our bonds as well as energise our partnership. pic.twitter.com/siMQzFpuDk
Thanking Modi for the grand welcome, Rajapaksa tweeted, “I am greatly honored by the warm reception and the hand of friendship extended by His Excellencies @narendramodi and @rashtrapatibhvn and look forward to reciprocating the hospitality soon in #LKA”
I am greatly honored by the warm reception and the hand of friendship extended by His Excellencies @narendramodi and @rashtrapatibhvn and look forward to reciprocating the hospitality soon in #LKA pic.twitter.com/Pj1mtgm7nx
— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) November 29, 2019
Rajapaksa also said, “During my tenure as president, I want to bring the relationship between India and Sri Lanka to a very high level. We have a long-standing relationship historically as well as politically.”
“During my tenure as president, I want to bring the relationship between India and Sri Lanka to a very high level. We have a long-standing relationship historically as well as politically,”Both the countries need to work together on key issues like security, economic development pic.twitter.com/DE9wwfOLys
— someetharan (@someeth) November 29, 2019
Rajapaksa also visited Raj Ghat, to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi – Father of the Nation, India.
Post this, Modi and Rajapaksa talked about a number of topics. This included fulfilling the aspirations of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka, situation in the Indian Ocean region and steps to boost trade and investment ties.
For the records, the Sri Lankan economy was severely hit after 8 blasts jolted the capital city of Colombo on the day of Easter, i.e., April 21, 2019, killing more than 250 people. This also affected the tourism in Sri Lanka which is one of the most important revenue contributor. Post attacks, a lot of countries issued travel advisory, asking their nationals to refrain from travelling to the island country.
Modi and Rajapaksa also held a Joint Press Conference where they agreed to have increased mutual cooperation for strengthening the bilateral ties.
WATCH THE JOINT PRESS MEET HERE: https://www.pscp.tv/w/1mrGmrnOoZgJy
Speaking on the occasion, Modi said, “I have discussed in detail with President Rajapaksa how to strengthen our mutual cooperation in dealing with terrorism. Sri Lankan police officers are receiving training on countering terrorism in prominent Indian institutions.”
He also added, “The mandate that you have received reflected the aspirations of the Sri Lankan people for a strong and prosperous Sri Lanka. India’s good wishes and cooperation are always with Sri Lanka in this regard.”
Modi also highlighted the fact that economic stability and peace in Sri Lanka is not only in interest of India but for entire Indian Ocean Region.
Rajapaksa took to twitter to express gratitude to Modi for extending the financial assistance to Sri Lanka by tweeting, “It was an honour to jointly address the press with His Excellency @narendramodi and thank him for the expressed support and collaboration between our two great nations.”
It was an honour to jointly address the press with His Excellency @narendramodi and thank him for the expressed support and collaboration between our two great nations https://t.co/upLD44K1iL
— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) November 29, 2019
Last week, the Minister of External Affairs of India – Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had travelled to Colombo as a special envoy of Narendra Modi to convey the latter’s greeting to Rajapaksa.
For the records, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has served as a Former Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development from 2005 to 2015 under the Administration of his elder brother and current Prime Minister of Sri Lanka – Mahinda Rajapaksa. He led the Sri Lankan Armed Forces to the military defeat of the Tamil Tigers, ending the Sri Lankan Civil War. Tamil Tigers was a militant and political organisation that was based in North Eastern Sri Lanka which aimed to secure an independent State of Tamil Eelam in the North and East, in response to the State policies of successive Sri Lankan Governments towards Tamils.
