Modi wows Lanka

Visas relaxed:

US$ 318m credit for railways:

US$ 1.5b to stabilise Rupee:

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, winding up his historic two-day visit to Sri Lanka with an equally historic visit to the North yesterday, called for equitable development and respect for all citizens in Sri Lanka. Earlier on Friday, the Indian Prime Minister urged President Maithripala Sirisena to ensure early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment relating to devolution of powers to Tamils and to go beyond that in finding a political solution.

Laying the foundation for a Cultural Centre being built by India, Modi said unity, peace and amity were essential ingredients for equitable development where there is respect for all citizens. Earlier, Modi flagged off the first train to recommence the Talaimannar/Madu train service to Colombo. Rehabilitation work on the rail track was carried out with Indian credit assistance.

Modi also participated in a housewarming ceremony in Ilavalai in Jaffna, where India is assisting in a housing project and later offered prayers at the Naguleswaram Temple in Jaffna.

Earlier in the day, the Indian Prime Minister visited the North Central Province where he paid homage to the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi and launched a number of Indian-funded projects.

The Indian leader, the first to break a three-decade-old spell and visit the country after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1987, signed four agreements on visa, customs, youth development and building a Rabindranath Tagore memorial in Sri Lanka.

Modi also said India stands ready to help Trincomalee become a petroleum hub and announced that New Delhi will provide a fresh Line of Credit of up to USD 318 million for the railways sector in Lanka.

He also said that the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka have agreed to enter into a Currency Swap Agreement of USD 1.5 billion to help keep the Sri Lankan rupee stable.