Lanka-India share close partnership

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the few distinguished world leaders who addressed Sri Lanka's Parliament on Friday. It was indeed a historic occasion as parliamentarians from both sides of the House listened in rapt attention to what the Indian Premier said.

Premier Modi's address to Sri Lanka's legislature was a clear testimony to his desire to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

His visit to Sri Lanka's Parliament was very significant as he was the first Indian Leader to address Sri Lanka's legislature since the Indian Prime Minister Moraji Desai in February 1979. The first foreign leader to address Sri Lanka's Parliament was Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1962, followed by his daughter Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in April 1973.

This was the first visit by an Indian Premier after a lapse of 28 years, since the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Colombo in July 1987 to ink the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord. The exchange of high profile visits shows the keen desire of the two countries to build and nurture an age-old friendship to a level of excellence. It is evident that the new National Unity Government headed by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had taken tangible steps during the past two months to straighten Indo-Lanka ties for the common good of both countries.

Modi was the first Indian Leader to visit Jaffna and the second foreign leader to do so, after British Prime Minister David Cameron visited the North in 2013. As landmark events in Premier Modi's visit, he commissioned the Talaimannar railway track, opened the cultural centre in Jaffna and presented houses that had been built by India in the Northern province. He also visited the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura. He held bilateral talks with President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

A rousing reception was accorded to the Indian Leader by Sri Lanka's Parliament. Tight security arrangements had been put in place in the vicinity of the Parliamentary complex. Despite heavy rains, the Security Forces were in full alert at both sides of the main entrance to Parliament for the arrival of the Indian Leader.

Premier Modi was warmly welcomed by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Leader of the House and Plantation Industries Minister Lakshman Kiriella at the Ceremonial Entrance. He was escorted to the Parliament building by the Speaker, Secretary General of Parliament, Serjeant-at-Arms, Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms and the Assistant Serjeant-at-Arms and later proceeded to the Robing Room.

When the Quorum bell rang around 3.15 pm parliamentarians took their seats in the Chamber awaiting the arrival of the Indian Leader to the Chamber. A few minutes later, the Indian Premier accompanied by the Speaker, Secretary General and other high ranking officials entered the Chamber and occupied the special chair arranged for him. Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa in his welcome address said he was confident that Premier Modi's visit to parliament and his words of wisdom would contribute immensely to further cement the relations between the two countries. Today our countries share an all-encompassing development partnership through our common cultural and religious contacts, the vibrant economic engagement and security interests, he said. Later the Speaker invited Premier Modi to address the Parliament.

Premier Modi in his historic address to Parliament said that India and Sri Lanka are at the moment realizing the dreams of their people and thanked Sri Lankan Leaders for the opportunity provided to address Parliament. His reference to "millions of fans of Sri Lankan cricket" in India set the tone for a speech that alluded to the friendship between the two peoples in a variety of spheres. He said " the future that I dream of India, is also the future I wish for our neighbours." It was perhaps the most significant phrase in his speech, which was applauded by all Members. He said that he will be happy if India serves as a catalyst for progress of its neighbours.

The Indian Premier said that the Sri Lanka Parliament is one of Asia's oldest and most vibrant democracies. Although India and Sri Lanka don't have a land boundary, we are the closest neighbours in every sense. Sri Lanka is the leader advancing cooperation in South Asia which is important for the future of the Indian Ocean region, he said.

Premier Modi told Parliament that he is a firm believer in co-operative federalism and as such it devolves more power to the states. He said Sri Lanka had successfully defeated terrorism and brought the conflict to an end. Sri Lanka has a historic opportunity to win the hearts and heal the wounds of all sections of the society. Recent elections in Sri Lanka have reflected the collective bond of the nation, the hope for change, reconciliation and unity. The steps that Sri Lanka has taken in the recent times are bold and admirable, he said.

He stressed the importance of two nations taking the lead in increasing cooperation in the South Asian region. Assuring India's full commitment to develop partnership with Sri Lanka, he said, India has committed US$ 1.6 billion in development assistance to Sri Lanka. Today we have committed further assistance amounting to US$ 380 million to Sri Lanka's railway sector. We will continue our development partnership. Sri Lanka and India have a great opportunity and responsibility to realise the dreams of their people, he said.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe delivering the Vote of Thanks said a visit by an Indian prime minister was long overdue and Modi has fulfilled it opening a new chapter and a closer relationship between the two countries. What we are trying to achieve in Sri Lanka is to move away from the Westminster tradition towards a more cooperative culture while keeping the identity of political parties and the natural struggle for power in a democracy during an election time. Wickremesinghe said Indo-Lanka relations will be the foundation of converting our region back to prosperity. The Indian Prime Minister has made a thought-provoking speech which is certainly a valuable contribution to the process that we have to start from here, he said.

Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva told the House that the visit of Indian Premier to Sri Lanka heralded a new era of renewed Indo-Lanka relations. Sri Lanka and India have a long history of close ties socially, politically, culturally and economically spanning many centuries. From time immemorial Sri Lanka and India had excellent trade relations and as a result we are proud that India has become one of our leading trading partners, he said.

After the House adjourned the Indian Premier signed the Visitors' Book and was accompanied to the MPs Lobby for a special tea party hosted by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. Premier Modi was served vegetarian food with Sri Lankan varieties at the tea party. After the tea party, the Indian Prime Minister arrived at the Ceremonial Entrance and left the Parliament complex around 4.30 pm.