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As a close neighbor, India has stepped on the accelerator and became the first responder to Sri Lanka’s coronavirus crisis
After going through a difficult phase, India and Sri Lanka will re-engage in the diplomatic and political level amid the huge financial crisis and the severe Covid-19 wave that swept the island nation.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Hash Shringela will pay a three-day visit to Sri Lanka on Saturday, where he will visit the top leaders, including President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister GL Peiris and his Foreign Minister Jayanath Colombage.
During this period, Shringla will also travel to Kandy, Trincomalee and Jaffna, and visit the Jaffna Cultural Center under construction with the assistance of India.
As a close neighbor, India has stepped on the accelerator and became the first responder to Sri Lanka’s new crown crisis.New Delhi has supplied 100 tons of liquid medical oxygen, 26 tons of medicines and 500,000 new coronavirus vaccines delivered.
India has also provided assistance to the Suwa Seriya project and provided free ambulances, which are now operating in all provinces of Sri Lanka and have played an important role in the fight against Covid-9.
Sri Lanka has been asking India to provide more new coronavirus vaccines. Now that India has announced that it will open up vaccine exports, Sri Lanka can be a beneficiary.
In order to alleviate the economic pressure caused by the epidemic, India is exploring and evaluating ways to provide financial assistance to Sri Lanka.
Earlier this year, Sri Lanka and India conducted a currency swap of 400 million U.S. dollars, and it is very likely that another currency swap will be conducted soon.
India has provided huge credits for the reconstruction of war-torn northern Sri Lanka, especially railways. India has large and small projects all over Sri Lanka.
During the visit, Shringla will review the progress made in energy and development projects.
The Indian company Adani recently signed a strategic agreement with the Sri Lanka Port Authority to build a US$700 million deep-sea container terminal. The company will control 51% of the shares of the Colombo Western International Terminal.
Prior to this, Sri Lanka unceremoniously drove India and Japan out of the Colombo Port East Container Terminal.
At the same time, the Thirteenth Amendment and the issue of decentralization have been put aside by the Rajapaskar government. India will discuss this issue while renewing contact with the leadership, and hope to see some progress in this area.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister GL Peiris recently met with Foreign Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar during the UN General Assembly and said that his country is working to resolve the issue of post-ethnic war.
India maintains high-level contacts with Sri Lankan leaders. EAM also visited Sri Lanka in January. He said that the Tamil people’s expectations for equality, justice, peace and dignity are met and are in the interests of neighboring countries.
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>> Due to economic concerns, Sri Lanka lifted its six-week virus blockade
Maritime security is also a key factor in India’s engagement with Sri Lanka, and India has promoted the Colombo Security Conference.
This is the current trilateral arrangement between India, Sri Lanka and Maldives. These three countries deal with the illegal drug trade, drug trafficking, terrorism and increasingly radical issues in the region. The secretariat has also been established in Colombo. Recently, the Deputy Director of the National Security Agency met in Colombo.
Bangladesh, Mauritius and Seychelles also participated as observers and are negotiating with these countries to formally join the organization as permanent members.
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