[Nethra K Putti]

INDO-SRILANKAN RELATIONSHIPS

Indo-Srilankan relations have seen the best of times as well as the worst times. Recently , the PM of India & The President of Sri lanka reached bilateral understanding on a number of issues. The major thrust of the diplomatic engagement is as follows:

• both sides remain resolutely committed to opposing terrorism in all its forms & manifestations, while reiterating that terrorism can never be justified either on political / religious / ideological grounds. The two sides agreed that the current global challenges require the reinvigoration of multilateralism including through strenghtning of the UN system. Sri Lanka reiterated her position that the UN Security Council reform process should facilitate India's legitimate claim for a permanent seat in the UNSC & reaffirmed her support for the candidature of India as a permanent member of UNSC.

• India & Sri lanka emphasized their commitment to work for the full realisation of the objectives identified by the 13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka last November. They were of the view that the South Asian Free Trade Agreement once operationalised should pave the way for the SAARC nations to move towards even closer economic cooperations, with the eventual goal being that of an economic union encompassing the entire region.

• The PM of India & The President of Sri lanka expressed satisfaction at the dynamism of the bilateral economic relationship. The good progress by the two governments in building on the success of the India-Sri Lanka Free trade agreement by negotiating a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was stressed upon.

• It was highlighted that India has made an initial allocation of a Credit Line of US $100 million for the integrated development of the Colombo-Matara Rail Network. A delegation of officials from Srilanka will visit India in turn to discuss & agree on the technical & engineering aspects of the projects, & the terms & conditions of the Credit Line.

• The two leaders welcomed the bilateral understandings being reached on identifying joint ventures for the development of the eastern Srilankan Port City of Tricomalee, & its surroundings region. It was agreed in this context that a coal based power project of capacity 2x250 MW will be set up in the Tricomalee region of Srilanka, as a joint venture between the National Thermal Power Company Ltd., a government of India enterprises& the Ceylon Electricity Board, a government of Srilanka entity. THe Indian side also announced assistance in constructing a library & a stadium in Jaffna.

• It was agreed that there was great potential for cooperation in the areas of agriculture, if & renewable energy.Both sides discussed Collaboration in the Information & Communication Technology (ICT) area. In this regard, India & Srilanka to set up an ICT Park in Srilanka.

• Desire to accelarate their cooperation in the field of Human Resource Development, & the Fashioning of educational policies appropriate for developing within the national workforces, the skills & capacities required by the 21st century was recognised. it was agreed that the Joint Working Group under the India-Srilank MOU on the Educationa Exchange Programme would be operationalized at the earliest possible. several measures funded by India to enhance cooperation in the field of education & training were also agreed upon. These include the Mahatma Gandhi scholarship scheme for 100 deserving Srilankan Students every year, the upgradation of libraries & science laboratories in the Upcountry area, the setting up of a Chair in Contemporary Indian Studies in Peradeniya University & commissioning of a field study on vocational training centres.

• it was noted that the training of 40 Sri lankan Policemen has already commenced in different institution of India.

• Sri Lanka welcomed the donation of medical equipment as Tsunami relief to the affected hospitals of Point Pedro & of Hambantota. the Indian side announced that it had initiated action to prepare a deatiled project report on the rehabiliation of the Tsunami-damages Base hospital in Trincomalee. The government of India further announced that it would provide equipment to set up a fully-equipped obstetrics & Gynaecology unit in the existing hospital at Dickoya.

• Sri lanka expressed her appreciation for the valuable contribution by the Indian Cultural centre in Colmbo, towards continuing a level of cultural interaction worthy of the longstanding historical & civilized links between the two nations. India further announced that it would hold an Exhibition of Contemporary Indian Art in Colombo.

• It was noted that a positive collaborative relationship was being established for the study & monitoring of the environmental implications of the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project. both sides reiterated the importance of continuing bilateral cooperation margins of the two countries. the side welcomed the proposal by Srilanka for Economic coopearation within the palk bay sea.

• The establishment of India-Srilanka Parliamentary Friendship Association in the national legislatures of both countries was stressed upon.

• The president of Srilanka apprised the PM of India of recent attacks on Srilankan security forces & other ceasefire violations. the two leaders deplored violations of the ceasefire, which could undermine the prospects for peace in srilanka. the side welcomed the Srilankan Government's offer for early resumption of peace talks.

[manu22678]

can you comment on pakistani presence in srilanka, as asked in recent civil service examination.

[Shalini]

India pakistan agreements can u put?

[shwetaturkar]

i wnt to knw the recent trends in the same....