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Colombo, June 21: In a significant diplomatic exchange, President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar yesterday led bilateral discussions at the President’s House yesterday, with joint energy projects taking centre stage, DailyFT reported.
The meeting between the President and Dr. Jaishankar focused on various initiatives aimed at enhancing energy connectivity and developing the renewable energy sector between the two countries.
Key topics included plans for an LNG supply, a proposed petroleum pipeline linking India and Sri Lanka, and advancing oil and gas exploration projects. Notably, it was announced that the construction of the Sampur solar power plant is set to commence in July 2024.
Further discussions centred on enhancing the efficiency of Indian-supported projects to bolster Sri Lanka’s liquid milk industry and fertiliser production.
Both leaders also discussed India’s support for developing Trincomalee and expanding the Kankasanthurai port, underscoring the strategic importance of these initiatives.
Additionally, the meeting addressed the ongoing development of Jaffna Airport and Colombo Airport with Indian assistance, highlighting the progress in Sri Lanka’s aviation infrastructure. A significant point of discussion was the acceleration of Sri Lanka’s unique digital identity card project, marking a crucial step towards the country’s digitisation efforts.
The comprehensive talks reflect the growing cooperation between Sri Lanka and India, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations through enhanced energy projects and infrastructure development.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry, Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, Senior Advisor on National Security and Head of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratna-yaka, Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, along with an Indian delegation including Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, were also present at the event.
Daily Mirror reported that the Indian External Affairs Minister expressed concern over the continuity of Indian projects after the September-October Sri Lankan Presidential election. He also urged Sri Lankan leaders to fully implement the 13 th. Amendment of the constitution devolving power to the provinces as envisaged by the India-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987.
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