External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Sri Lanka on Thursday, June 20, 2024, marking his first visit in his second consecutive term in office. During this visit, he aims to strengthen bilateral ties through discussions with Sri Lankan leadership and the inauguration of several key projects.
Source: India today
Mr. Jaishankar was received by Tharaka Balasuriya, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Senthil Thondaman, Governor of the Eastern Province, upon his arrival in Colombo.
Source:- BBC news
In a significant gesture of bilateral cooperation, Mr. Jaishankar and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe jointly unveiled the virtual plaque to mark the formal commissioning of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Sri Lanka.
This project, funded under a $6 million grant from India, includes a main centre at Navy headquarters in Colombo, a sub-centre in Hambantota, and unmanned installations at Galle, Arugambay, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kallarawa, Point Pedro, and Mollikulam.
Additionally, they unveiled the virtual plaque for 106 houses in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Matale under the Indian Housing Project, with 24 houses in each model village in Colombo and Trincomalee being handed over virtually.
Under its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, India is dedicated to fostering friendly and mutually beneficial relationships with its neighbors. The SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy further underscores India’s commitment to maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.
“This will be the External Affairs Minister’s first bilateral visit after the formation of the new government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi stated. “Reaffirming India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, the visit underlines India’s continued commitment to Sri Lanka as its closest maritime neighbour and time-tested friend.”
The MEA noted that this visit aims to add momentum to connectivity projects and other forms of cooperation across various sectors. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi and the Union Council of Ministers at Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 9, expressed gratitude for India’s support during Sri Lanka’s financial crisis.
Mr. Jaishankar’s visit follows his participation in the G7 Outreach summit in Italy’s Apulia region as part of Prime Minister Modi’s delegation last week.
Share your views in the comments
