South Asian nations must settle bilateral issues through talks to develop region faster: Lanka PM

Asserting that South Asia is going to be the fastest growing region in the world, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday said the nations in the region "must learn how to cooperate" and settle bilateral and regional issues through talks to develop the area faster.

After taking part in the inauguration of the Jaffna International Airport here, Wickremesinghe said India has been helping in the development of the war-affected Jaffna in the island nation.

"India has helped us in many ways. Now this airport," the prime minister said.

An Alliance Air flight from Chennai landed at the Jaffna International Airport as Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena inaugurated the country's third international airport, upgraded with India's assistance, in the Tamil-dominated Northern Province.

The inaugural flight from Chennai was the first to land at the new international airport in Jaffna.

The prime minister said, "The fastest growing region in the world is going to be Indian Ocean and around that the fastest growing area is going to be South Asia. Not only India, the whole of South Asia. So we must learn how to cooperate. If we work together we can develop fast."
Meanwhile, the High Commission of India in Colombo tweeted, "As Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said Sri Lanka has a special place for us in our hearts, the inaugural flight to Jaffna International Airport is a reflection of India Sri Lanka's shared commitment to strengthen people to people ties."