Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla holds 'productive discussion' with Lankan prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa

Colombo: Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Monday had a “productive discussion” with Sri Lankan prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on further consolidating the multifaceted bilateral partnership and held delegation-level meeting with his Lankan counterpart.

Shringla, who arrived in Sri Lanka on Saturday on a four-day visit, is also expected to meet President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and review the bilateral ties between India and the island nation.

“Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla called on HE Mahinda Rajapaksa @PresRajapaksa today and had a productive discussion on further consolidating the multifaceted India-Sri Lanka partnership,” the Indian High Commission said in a tweet along with a photo of the meeting.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, Shringla said, “a short while back, I had a very productive meeting with His Excellency Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, an ardent friend of India and a steady source of support for the deepening of the India-Sri Lanka engagement.”

In a tweet, Mahinda expressed his pleasure at meeting Shringla.

“The Government of Sri Lanka looks forward to working together with the Government of India to strengthen our already strong bilateral relations to mutually benefit both nations,” the Sri Lankan prime minister said.

Later, Shringla had a “warm and cordial” delegation-level meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Admiral (Retd) Jayanath Colombage during which they reviewed bilateral cooperation, the Indian High Commission here said in a tweet.

He also called on Foreign Minister GL Peiris and discussed bilateral ties in all spheres. “Discussions focused on early conclusion of project proposals and enhancing connectivity that would help accelerate Sri Lanka’s economic recovery,” the Indian High Commission said in another tweet.

Shringla also met Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and discussed India-Sri Lanka economic and commercial ties and post-pandemic economic recovery by taking forward joint projects of mutual benefit.

The foreign secretary said that he is looking forward to his meeting with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

“I look forward to calling-on His Excellency President Gotabaya Rajapaksa whose steadfast commitment to the India-Sri Lanka bilateral relationship is well known,” he said.

Shringla also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 152nd birth anniversary at Temple Trees, the official residence of the Prime Minister.

“Paying homage to #Mahatma Gandhi on his 152nd birth anniversary, which fell on 2nd October, Foreign Minister Prof. GL Peiris, Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla, High Commissioner of India and other dignitaries garlanded the Gandhi bust at Temple trees,” the Indian High Commission said in another tweet.

On Sunday, Shringla inspected Jaffna’s Palaly airport in Sri Lanka’s Tamil-dominated Northern province where he was briefed by officials on the development work undertaken with India’s assistance.

He also visited the iconic Jaffna Cultural Centre, which is built with Indian grant assistance.

Shringla would also meet a delegation of the main Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for discussions.

TNA parliamentarian V Radhakrishnan said they would raise issues concerning the Tamils of Indian origin in Sri Lanka’s central tea plantations.

India has been consistently calling upon Sri Lanka to fulfil its commitments to protect the interests of the Tamil community and preserve the island nation’s character as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.

The Tamil community in Sri Lanka has been demanding the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution that provides for devolution of power to it. The 13th Amendment was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987.