Jaishankar presses for early decision on Lanka projects
Sandeep Dikshit
TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 6
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday pressed Sri Lanka for an early decision on several pending Indian proposals in infrastructure, energy and connectivity.
At a meeting with his counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena in Colombo, the External Affairs Minister expressed hope that 36 Tamil fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan security forces would soon be released.
Jaishankar listed reasons why India and Sri Lanka ought to have a closer trade and investment relationship. Although Gunawardena offered no specific commitments in public, he agreed that Colombo required partnerships for enhanced investment in several sectors of the economy.
India has its sights on the Colombo Port’s Eastern Container Terminal, but is being opposed by trade unions and the Left. Gunawardena represents a left-of-centre party and had campaigned against the Vietnam War in his youth. His father, a former Cabinet Minister, was Sri Lanka’s leading Trotskyite and an independence movement hero.
Jaishanakar said early implementation of many proposals under discussion would definitely accelerate Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.
“We have discussed some important opportunities in the course of yesterday and today, including in special zones for pharmaceutical manufacturing as also in tourism. I will ensure an early follow-up from the Indian side,” Jaishankar assured Gunawardena.
The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister was highly appreciative of the Indian support over the past several months to mitigate the adverse impact of Covid. He also thanked India for extending assistance in repatriating Sri Lankan pilgrims, students and medical cases.
“As close neighbours and littoral states, we discussed defence and security matters as well as maritime and fishery sectors. We agreed to continue the momentum brought about by close dialogue as also (agreed to) curb illegal activities,” added Gunawardena.
Though Sri Lanka abuts further into the Indian Ocean than India and Colombo is a natural stopover for long-haul ships, there was no mention of Indo-Pacific. Nor was there any mention on infrastructure projects that are debt traps.
