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Sunday, 13 June 2010

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Indo-Lanka ties reach new heights

Indo-Sri Lanka relations reached new heights following President Mahinda Rajapaksa's recent State visit to India. The two countries have agreed to further harness the enormous potential to consolidate and strengthen the bilateral partnership by building on shared values and principles of democracy and pluralism.

Sri Lanka and India have enjoyed cordial relations from time immemorial. The two countries have maintained excellent relations in various fields - political, social, cultural or religious. These ties reached a new peak after the Indo-Sri Lanka leaders met last week in New Delhi for bilateral talks, having signed seven agreements.

India-Sri Lanka relations have diversified with the affluxion of time, encompassing all areas of contemporary relevance including trade, services and investment, development co-operation, science and technology, culture and education. There is no doubt that the understanding and goodwill which prevails between the two countries is an eye-opener to the countries which entertain reservations and tend to clash with their neighbouring nations.

Indian President Prathiba Patil said that the two South Asian neighbours can forge a bilateral relationship in mutual co-operation which could be taken as an example by the region and at international level. Proposing a toast at the State banquet hosted to the visiting Sri Lankan President at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan, New Delhi on Wednesday, the Indian President said that the peaceful situation in the North would help the bilateral ties between the two countries to reach new heights.

The Indian leaders commended President Rajapaksa for his commitment to improve bilateral ties between the two nations. President Patil has assured that India would continue to extend whatever assistance possible to Sri Lanka in its development efforts. The proposed visit by Tamil Nadu Parliamentarians could also be viewed as a catalyst in this regard.

It is indeed heartening to see India's commitment for development work in Sri Lanka, especially the reconstruction of the Northern railway track destroyed by LTTE terrorists. India will provide a soft loan of US$ 800 million to upgrade railways, apart from the loans pledged earlier amounting to Rs. 5,000 million.

The support extended by India during Sri Lanka's relentless battle against terrorism is vividly etched in our memory. Despite mounting pressure from Tamil Nadu politicians, the Indian Central Government always stood by Sri Lanka through thick and thin and its right to battle terror. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pledged his wholehearted support to President Rajapaksa to crush the world's most ruthless terror outfit which killed tens of thousands of innocent people during the past three decades.

India has evinced a keen interest in supporting Sri Lanka in its post-conflict development work. Under the bilateral agreements signed by the two countries, India will help upgrade agriculture, school buildings, housing, infrastructure and assist orphaned widows here. A new cultural centre and a vocational training institute will be set up in Jaffna while the Duraiappah Stadium will be upgraded to a full-fledged sports complex with financial support from India.

India has taken several steps to support Sri Lanka in its humanitarian assistance program, including the supply of family packs of food and clothing, medicines, setting up a field hospital, an artificial limb fitment camp and the resettlement of IDPs, including provision of shelter material, cement bags and agricultural implements and deployment of de-mining teams.

Another significant achievement during President Rajapaksa's state visit to India is to embark on a massive housing project for displaced families in the North. India and Sri Lanka would soon launch a massive housing program in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, to cater to the needs of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) due to terrorism.

President Rajapaksa said it was a matter of great satisfaction as 50,000 houses will be built under the joint program to provide shelter to those forced to become IDPs as a result of separatist terrorism. The contribution by India to ease the problem of housing for the IDPs is a further manifestation of the deep and cordial relations between India and Sri Lanka.

This is a clear indication of India's sincere commitment towards Sri Lanka's speedy recovery from the conflict situation, moving towards rapid rehabilitation and development of the North and the East. The highest priority has been assigned to the implementation of this housing program and steps will be taken to ensure that the resources made available by India will be utilised expeditiously.

President Rajapaksa's high profile statesmanship has enabled Sri Lanka to win the hearts of world leaders. Friendly countries strongly backed Sri Lanka in difficult times, especially in its battle against terrorism. These countries stood like rocks and supported Sri Lanka to the hilt. When there were certain moves against Sri Lanka at the UN Security Council, it was Sri Lanka's Asian neighbours who defended the country.

Sri Lanka's independent foreign policy, implemented after President Rajapaksa took office in 2005, was the key to the country's success of winning the world. Many Opposition politicians hurled brickbats at President Rajapaksa's international relations during the 2005 presidential election campaign. They were under an illusion that the West could do anything and everything and promoted some local leaders who would beg for everything from the West.

However, President Rajapaksa's exemplary foreign policy has won the hearts of many countries and world leaders. While protecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Sri Lanka has developed its bilateral relations with many countries over the past four years. Be it the West or the East, President Rajapaksa is immensely popular due to his sincere commitment. President Rajapaksa has proved his charismatic statesmanship in no small measure.

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