India converts a number of project loans to grants, agrees to expedite energy, connectivity and digital cooperation after Modi-Dissanayake meet in Delhi
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday assured that he would not allow his country’s territory to be used against India.
“I assured the Indian leader that Sri Lanka will not permit its territory to be used in any manner inimical to the security of India as well as towards regional stability,” Mr. Dissanayake said, speaking to the media along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, the official meeting venue.
India promised Mr. Dissanayake, who is on his maiden visit to New Delhi after sweeping presidential and parliamentary elections, to continue its grants assistance to Sri Lanka and help it tide over its economic problems.
Briefing the media later, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri indicated the statement by the Sri Lankan President could have a bearing on Sri Lanka’s clearance for foreign vessels, particularly Chinese ships berthing in Sri Lankan ports that India has often raised concerns about. In January, Sri Lanka will complete its one-year moratorium on all foreign research vessels docking in at its ports.
“We did highlight the role that India could play in a number of activities related to maritime security, maritime research, etc.,” Mr. Misri said indicating India could offer to conduct research for Sri Lanka rather than inviting other navies into Indian Ocean waters near the Island. “We pointed to the importance and sensitivity of our security interests in this area,” he added, also highlighting that this was the recently elected Sri Lankan President’s first visit abroad after taking over.
The two leaders said they discussed a number of issues, including regional security, digital infrastructure, connectivity and energy projects, as well as the Tamil issue and rights of fishermen. India announced it would convert loans granted to Sri Lanka for railway signalling systems and Kankesanthurai Port and also extended a $20.66 million grant to settle payment for projects already completed, that had originally been signed under a ‘Letter of Credit’ or loan. They also agreed to continue with their partnership on energy projects, including connecting to a common grid, an India-Sri Lanka “multi-product pipeline” with support of the United Arab Emirates, LNG supplies, as well as completing the much-delayed Sampur coal power project first signed in 2011.
The statements did not, however, indicate any progress on discussing the issues surrounding projects by the Adani Group, that are under review in Sri Lanka and have faced further pushback after indictments by U.S. investigators against the company. While the Adani bid to develop a terminal at Colombo Port is now expected to go ahead with internal funding rather than U.S. agency DFC’s funding, the Dissanayake government has said it may put a hold on a 500 MW wind power project in the northeastern regions of Mannar and Pooneryn. Significantly, despite the company’s considerable stakes in Sri Lanka, no Adani company representative was listed amongst participants at the “India-Sri Lanka Business Forum”, held by business chambers CII, FICCI and Assocham in Delhi on Monday.
In addition, Delhi and Colombo didn’t appear to find common ground on the contentious issue of fishermen, although they spoke of the need for dealing with Indian fishermen, whom Sri Lanka accuses of trespassing into its waters, in a “humanitarian manner”. Mr. Dissanayake also called on India to curtail the use of “bottom trawlers” that deplete marine resources.
Mr. Modi also said he had discussed the issue of Tamil reconciliation and reconstruction in the formerly war-torn north and east of Sri Lanka.
“President Dissanayake apprised me of his inclusive perspective,” said Mr. Modi adding that India hopes the Sri Lankan government shall fulfil the aspirations of the Tamil people, and “fulfil their commitment towards fully implementing the Constitution of Sri Lanka and conducting the Provincial Council Elections”.
In presidential elections held in September and parliamentary elections in November, Mr. Dissanayake’s party, the JVP, received a record number of votes and officials said the Sri Lankan President referred to his “mandate” on more than one occasion during the talks with Mr. Modi.
“People from all the provinces – North, South, East, and West— representing diverse communities and various walks of life contributed to this mandate. As a leader entrusted with such an important responsibility by my people, I clearly understand that the essence of democracy lies in the coexistence of diverse political views and groups,” Mr. Dissanayake said at the media briefing. Neither side, however, referred specifically to the devolution of power to the North Eastern Provinces under the 13th Amendment to the constitution, which has in the past always been mentioned.
Discussing cooperation on the international stage, Mr. Dissanayake said that he had requested India to support Sri Lanka’s bid to join the extended BRICS grouping of emerging economies and for India’s intervention on the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UNCLCS) for the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond Exclusive Economic Zone, that Sri Lanka has asked for. When asked about BRICS, Mr. Misri said that at present there was no consensus within BRICS that was doubled in strength to 10 member countries last year, to include any further members at present.
Won’t allow Sri Lankan territory to be used against India: President Dissanayake
India converts a number of project loans to grants, agrees to expedite energy, connectivity and digital cooperation after Modi-Dissanayake meet in Delhi
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday assured that he would not allow his country’s territory to be used against India.
“I assured the Indian leader that Sri Lanka will not permit its territory to be used in any manner inimical to the security of India as well as towards regional stability,” Mr. Dissanayake said, speaking to the media along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, the official meeting venue.
India promised Mr. Dissanayake, who is on his maiden visit to New Delhi after sweeping presidential and parliamentary elections, to continue its grants assistance to Sri Lanka and help it tide over its economic problems.
Briefing the media later, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri indicated the statement by the Sri Lankan President could have a bearing on Sri Lanka’s clearance for foreign vessels, particularly Chinese ships berthing in Sri Lankan ports that India has often raised concerns about. In January, Sri Lanka will complete its one-year moratorium on all foreign research vessels docking in at its ports.
“We did highlight the role that India could play in a number of activities related to maritime security, maritime research, etc.,” Mr. Misri said indicating India could offer to conduct research for Sri Lanka rather than inviting other navies into Indian Ocean waters near the Island. “We pointed to the importance and sensitivity of our security interests in this area,” he added, also highlighting that this was the recently elected Sri Lankan President’s first visit abroad after taking over.
The two leaders said they discussed a number of issues, including regional security, digital infrastructure, connectivity and energy projects, as well as the Tamil issue and rights of fishermen. India announced it would convert loans granted to Sri Lanka for railway signalling systems and Kankesanthurai Port and also extended a $20.66 million grant to settle payment for projects already completed, that had originally been signed under a ‘Letter of Credit’ or loan. They also agreed to continue with their partnership on energy projects, including connecting to a common grid, an India-Sri Lanka “multi-product pipeline” with support of the United Arab Emirates, LNG supplies, as well as completing the much-delayed Sampur coal power project first signed in 2011.
The statements did not, however, indicate any progress on discussing the issues surrounding projects by the Adani Group, that are under review in Sri Lanka and have faced further pushback after indictments by U.S. investigators against the company. While the Adani bid to develop a terminal at Colombo Port is now expected to go ahead with internal funding rather than U.S. agency DFC’s funding, the Dissanayake government has said it may put a hold on a 500 MW wind power project in the northeastern regions of Mannar and Pooneryn. Significantly, despite the company’s considerable stakes in Sri Lanka, no Adani company representative was listed amongst participants at the “India-Sri Lanka Business Forum”, held by business chambers CII, FICCI and Assocham in Delhi on Monday.
In addition, Delhi and Colombo didn’t appear to find common ground on the contentious issue of fishermen, although they spoke of the need for dealing with Indian fishermen, whom Sri Lanka accuses of trespassing into its waters, in a “humanitarian manner”. Mr. Dissanayake also called on India to curtail the use of “bottom trawlers” that deplete marine resources.
Mr. Modi also said he had discussed the issue of Tamil reconciliation and reconstruction in the formerly war-torn north and east of Sri Lanka.
“President Dissanayake apprised me of his inclusive perspective,” said Mr. Modi adding that India hopes the Sri Lankan government shall fulfil the aspirations of the Tamil people, and “fulfil their commitment towards fully implementing the Constitution of Sri Lanka and conducting the Provincial Council Elections”.
In presidential elections held in September and parliamentary elections in November, Mr. Dissanayake’s party, the JVP, received a record number of votes and officials said the Sri Lankan President referred to his “mandate” on more than one occasion during the talks with Mr. Modi.
“People from all the provinces – North, South, East, and West— representing diverse communities and various walks of life contributed to this mandate. As a leader entrusted with such an important responsibility by my people, I clearly understand that the essence of democracy lies in the coexistence of diverse political views and groups,” Mr. Dissanayake said at the media briefing. Neither side, however, referred specifically to the devolution of power to the North Eastern Provinces under the 13th Amendment to the constitution, which has in the past always been mentioned.
Discussing cooperation on the international stage, Mr. Dissanayake said that he had requested India to support Sri Lanka’s bid to join the extended BRICS grouping of emerging economies and for India’s intervention on the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UNCLCS) for the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond Exclusive Economic Zone, that Sri Lanka has asked for. When asked about BRICS, Mr. Misri said that at present there was no consensus within BRICS that was doubled in strength to 10 member countries last year, to include any further members at present.
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