President wants progress in India-Sri Lanka projects

President Pranab Mukherjee told his Sri Lankan counterpart Maithripala Sirisena that both countries should "expeditiously implement the large developmental projects" they have been discussing.

Mukherjee shared his view with Sirisena at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday.

"India and Sri Lanka need to expeditiously implement on the ground some of the large developmental projects that have been under discussion," Mukherjee said.

Welcoming the Sri Lankan President, Mukherjee said India believes that its growth was linked to the prosperity of its neighbourhood.

"India would like to see Sri Lanka utilising the economic growth in India to catalyse its own economic development. This is also India's message to other partners in BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation)," Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee also informed Sirisena that Indian private sector companies were keen to be partners in Sri Lanka's infrastructure projects.

Sirisena said he was happy that India-Sri Lanka relations had strengthened and a number of high-level contacts had taken place.

--IANS

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