Indo-Lanka bilateral ties further strengthened :

Sri Lanka moving in right direction - India’s Foreign Secy

Dinesh Weerawansa reporting from New Delhi

India’s Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said that Sri Lanka is moving in the right direction after eradicating terrorism and added that there are “unique opportunities” for Sri Lanka and India after terrorism was defeated by the Security Forces.

In an exclusive interview with a group of media heads from Sri Lanka at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi last week, Rao said that everybody is enjoying the dividends of peace. “People are moving very freely. When I was there, I saw from my hotel room people moving freely at the Galle Face Green even at midnight. They are enjoying the freedom to move without any fear,” Rao said.

The resettlement of displaced people in the North is “going on in a very constructive manner”. “It appears to be moving in the right direction.”

When I last visited Sri Lanka with the Indian External Affairs Minister, we saw that paddy farmers had returned to normal life. This means that the agro industry is catching up. I hope it would be restored soon to its previous level,” she said. The former High Commissioner to Sri Lanka turned Foreign Secretary said that the number of displaced persons has dropped to under 17,000 and they too would be resettled before the end of this month.

“We have already pledged 50,000 houses and would grant more assistance to the displaced persons,” she said. The recent visit by India’s Minister of External Affairs S.M. Krishna further strengthened bilateral relations. “We had a very productive visit by our External Affairs Minister. Sri Lanka’s closest neighbour is India.

There are many linkages and we have to take decisions in an open manner in issues relating to defence and security,” she said.

Rao, who became the second woman after Chokila Iyer to hold the high-profile post of Indian Foreign Secretary in July 2009, said that the Indian Defence Secretary was due to tour Sri Lanka this month for the annual defence dialogue. She anticipated more people to people linkages in the new Indian Consulates in Jaffna and Hambantota.

The Indian Foreign Secretary said the peaceful situation in Sri Lanka has prompted people to travel to India more comfortably. “It was good to see Sri Lankan companies such as MAS Holdings, Brandix, Aitken Spence and Carsons investing in India. Similarly, Indian companies have invested in Sri Lanka. During the past 10 years, it has been very productive for trade in both countries. We are looking forward to a frank exchange of views on partnership agreements,” she said.

Explaining India’s assistance to Sri Lanka, she said that the Indian Government has extended its line of credit to the tune of USD 800 million.

“India is helping to build the Galle-Matara highway. We are also keen on assisting Sri Lanka in the knowledge industry and tourism development.

India has been supporting the tri-lingual program initiated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa through the Universities of Colombo and Peradeniya,” she said.