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| Sunday, 5 June 2005 |
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President clinches India support by Our Political correspondent President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga had cordial and wide-ranging discussions with India Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. In their discussions on the peace process concern was expressed over ceasefire violations and the illegal acquisition of air capability by the LTTE. Commenting on Sri Lanka's remarkable efforts to recover from the tragedy of the tsunami of December last year Dr. Manmohan Singh reiterated that India remains committed to assist Sri Lanka and the Indian assistance would consist of grant of Rs. 100 crores for relief and reconstruction projects, a moratorium on debt repayments for three years,as well as the factoring of post-tsunami reconstruction priorities into existing and proposed lines of credit. President Kumaratunga also apprised the Indian Prime Minister of her efforts to establish a Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS) for coordinating relief and reconstruction in areas affected by the Tsunami. The Indian Premier expressed understanding and the support for these ongoing efforts. During the discussions on the economic cooperation the two leaders noted that the bilateral trade recorded a volume of US$1.8 billion in 2004 with the trade imbalance between the two countries having narrowed significantly. Taking stock of the encouraging progress on negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), the two leaders directed that the negotiations on the CEPA be concluded by the end of 2005, so as to give a new thrust to overall bilateral business activity as well as to encourage investments in several areas of mutual interest and thereby strengthen the partnership in economic development between the two countries. The two leaders also noted that the forthcoming visit of the Indian external Affairs Minister for the Indo- Sri Lanka joint Commission on June 10, 2005 in Colombo will provide a further impetus to bilateral cooperation. With regard to the Sethusamudram Canal project, it was agreed that the exchange of views between the Indian and Sri Lankan technical experts should continue. Finally President Kumaratunga stated that her Government and people looked forward to the visit of Indian Premier to Sri Lanka at an early, mutually convenient date. Responding to the President Dr. Manmohan Singh said that he looked forward to visiting Sri Lanka stating that he attached the highest importance to the furtherance and strengthening of India-SriLanka relations. |
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