Several outcomes expected during PM Modi-Dissanayake talks in Sri Lanka
PM Modi-President Dissanayake Summit: After the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Saturday, about 10 agreements are expected to be agreed between India and Sri Lanka, including increasing cooperation in the areas of defense, energy security and digitalization.
PM Modi will reach the capital of Sri Lanka on Friday evening after completing his visit to Bangkok.
In Bangkok, he attended the summit of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Initiative).
Modi is the first foreign leader to be hosted by Dissanayake as the President of Sri Lanka. Modi last visited Sri Lanka in 2019. People familiar with the programs related to the visit said that seven agreements, including the Defense Cooperation Agreement, are likely to be finalized. Apart from this, three more agreements can also be discussed.
Defense cooperation can be discussed
If the MoU related to defense cooperation is signed, it will indicate a major progress in India-Sri Lanka defense relations. After this agreement, the bitter memories related to the withdrawal of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) from Sri Lanka by India about 35 years ago will be left behind.
The Prime Minister's visit to Sri Lanka is taking place at a time when there are signs of Sri Lanka recovering from the economic crisis.
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PM Modi last visited Sri Lanka in 2019
Three years ago, the country was facing a huge economic crisis and India had given financial assistance of US $ 4.5 billion. After the talks between Modi and Dissanayake, two documents related to debt restructuring and facilitating the assistance given by India to Sri Lanka are likely to be made public.
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What did the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo say
Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Santosh Jha said in an interview to 'PTI-Bhasha' that the assistance given to Sri Lanka was 'unprecedented' compared to the assistance given by India to any country in the world. Jha said, 'It was a huge assistance, and we are working with Sri Lanka to help in various areas. It is greatly appreciated here.'
He said, 'India was the first country to give financial assurance to the IMF. After this, the IMF decided to provide extended fund facility to Sri Lanka.'
Summary
The High Commissioner said, 'India is also the first country to give assurance from its side for restructuring of loans.' Recalling the visit of the President of Sri Lanka to India in December last year, Jha said that the agenda of cooperation will be taken forward during Modi's visit to Sri Lanka.
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