Joint Indo-Lankan working group on infrastructure development formed

India on Thursday informed that a joint working group has been formed between Colombo and New Delhi to work on infrastructure development, including a port in Sri Lanka.

"A joint working group has been formed by India and Sri Lanka to work on infrastructure development including a port in Sri Lanka," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Gopal Baglay said.

India yesterday agreed to cooperate with Sri Lanka in developing world class road infrastructure in Jaffna region.

The Indo-Sri Lanka Cooperation in road construction came up for discussion when Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari called on visiting Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Vickramasinghe.

During the discussions, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister invited the Government of India to take up development of three major road stretches---Jaffna to Mannar, Mannar to Vavuniya and Dambulla to Tricomalee.

Vickramasinghe suggested that these stretches are important for Sri Lanka to develop Jaffna.

Gadkari assured the Sri Lankan Prime Minister that his ministry shall fully cooperate with Sri Lankan Government's efforts in developing world class infrastructure in Sri Lanka.

The minister also suggested that taking up all these stretches for development may only be possible with the active support of Sri Lankan agencies for land acquisition and local clearances.

Without acquisition and other clearances in place, it will be difficult to complete the project in time.

The Indian delegation proposed that a suitable financial model for developing these roads may be put in place.

On receiving the final formal proposal, Gadkari assured that they may look at appointing an international consultant to take up detailed study and preparation of feasibility report and Detailed Project Report (DPR) for these stretches.