India expresses willingness to assist Sri Lanka to develop its ports and aviation sectors
India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has reportedly told Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe that India is willing to assist Sri Lanka in developing its ports and aviation sectors.
Swaraj has made this observation when she had met the Prime Minister in Vietnam on Tuesday on the sidelines of the third Indian Ocean Conference in Hanoi, Vietnam.
According to reports, they had also discussed the security situation in the Indian Ocean region and they had steered frequent meetings among the members of the Indian Ocean conference in addition to official sessions.
Prime Minister’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Additional Secretary Saman Attaudahetti, Youth Affairs Minister and the Premier’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake and Sri Lankan Ambassador Hansini Dissanayake had also participated in the discussion while Indian External Affairs Spokesman Ravish Kumar had also been present.
OSL take:
The statement by India’s External Affairs Minister is an indication of the close relations between India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka already has a free trade agreement with India and maintains excellent trade ties as well. Neighboring India has provided continuous assistance to Sri Lanka’s development agenda. The discussion on developing the ports and aviation sector in Sri Lanka with Indian assistance shows the importance laid by India on Sri Lanka, which is holds a strategic position in the Indian Ocean region. It also goes on to show the opening up of investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s ports and aviation sectors.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/30082018/Z_1 |