Modi’s visit to strengthen Lanka – India ties
by Manjula Fernando
The significance of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s State visit
to Sri Lanka from March 13-14 will be threefold to the Asian giant while
Sri Lanka will attempt to mend its strained relations with her giant
neighbour due to certain actions on the part of the previous regime.
India is expected to focus attention on the fishermen’s issue across
the Palk Straits, power devolution to the Northern province and most
importantly, balancing China’s influence in its backyard during the
high-profile tour.
Modi will also visit two other strategic Indian ocean island nations,
Seychelles and Mauritius from March 11 to 14. The local media termed the
visits, a move to ‘bolster India’s relations’ and ‘build strategic ties
as a possible counter to China’s growing maritime influence’.
A high-profile visit to the Maldives was also included in his
itinerary on the upcoming tour but it had been cancelled at the eleventh
hour due to the political situation in Male following the sudden arrest
of former President M Nasheed, The Hindu reported quoting the Indian
External Affairs Ministry.
The Indian leader will arrive in Sri Lanka after wrapping up visits
to the Seychelles and Mauritius on March 12 evening. During his
relatively lengthy stay here, the Indian Prime Minister will visit
Jaffna, Talaimannar and Anuradhapura on March 14, in addition to his
bi-lateral meetings and other engagements in Colombo on March 13.
In Jaffna, the Premier will unveil a plaque near the Jaffna library,
at the site of a cultural centre which is being built by India and also
present houses built under the Indian funded 50,000 houses project to
beneficiaries, a Foreign Ministry release stated.
He will also flag off the first train from the Talaimannar station
signifying the launch of train services from to Colombo. The rail track
was reconstructed under an Indian credit line after the end of the war.
A visit to the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura is symbolic for both
countries as the Indian Premier had shown a keen interest in Buddhism.
Following President Sirisena's visit to India he permitted Sri Lankan
pilgrims to pay local rates to visit the national museum in Delhi where
the sacred Kapilavasthu relics for Buddhists are enshrined.
The Indian Premier will be accorded a ceremonial reception welcome
and a guard of honour on March 13 after which he will hold bi-lateral
discussions with President Maithripala Sirisena before being hosted to
lunch by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. President Sirisena will
host a State Banquet in honour of the visiting leader.
Modi will be accorded the honour of addressing a special sitting of
Parliament on March 13 at 3.15pm, an honour which was also granted to
his predecessors Indira Gandhi in 1973 and Morarji Desai in 1979.
He is also scheduled to lay a wreath at the IPKF Memorial and visit
the Mahabodhi Society. This will be the first official visit by an
Indian Prime Minister to Sri Lanka in 28 years after former Prime
Minister Rajiv Gandhi's visit in 1987.
Dr. Manmohan Singh arrived here in 2008 to attend the 15th SAARC
Summit as a guest Head-of-State. The agreements to be inked during Prime
Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to Sri Lanka next week were the
key focus of the discussions between visiting Indian External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swaraj and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera
yesterday.The counterparts had also discussed the resumption of ferry
services between the two countries that had come to a standstill, once
due to the war and again in 2011.
"India and Sri Lanka are keen to resume the ferry services at the
earliest," Director General Publicity, A.M.J. Sadiq told reporters after
the meeting.
The talks however, had not touched on the contentious fisheries
issue. The Indian External Affairs Minister is in the country ahead of a
two-day visit by Indian Prime Minister. The two Ministers also reviewed
arrangements relating to the forthcoming official visit by the Indian
Premier.Swaraj also called on President Mathripala Sirisena and Prime
Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Foreign Minister Samaraweera yesterday
hosted a welcome dinner in honour of the visiting Minister and her
delegation.
At the dinner reception she said, "The past year has been remarkable
in the history of our countries. People in both countries have voted for
change. This has brought new momentum to the bilateral relationship."
She added, "My visit to Sri Lanka is part of the high-level
engagement with the new Government of Sri Lanka. It also gives us an
opportunity to close the gaps before the visit of Prime Minister Modi."
The visiting minister paid floral tributes at the Indian Peace
Keeping Force (IPKF) war memorial on Saturday.
The Indian External Affairs Minister visited Sri Lanka previously as
Minister of Telecommunications and as Leader of the Opposition of the
Lok Sabha. She arrived in Colombo on Friday and departed last evening.
- MF
|