Page 5 - India-sri Lanka

Sri Lankan prez Dissanayake meets FM Sitharaman to discuss economic ties

Earlier on Sunday, Dissanayake also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval

Sri Lankan President begins 3-day India visit to boost bilateral ties

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka arrived in India on Sunday on a three-day visit in his first foreign trip after assuming the top office in September. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold wide-ranging talks with the Sri Lankan leader on Monday that is expected to focus on trade, investment, energy and maritime security. The Indian side is also likely to convey to the Sri Lankan leader New Delhi's expectations from Colombo to fulfil the aspirations of the Tamil community in the island nation. Disanayaka was received at the Delhi airport by Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan. In a post on 'X', External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Disanayaka's visit will be an opportunity to further deepen India-Sri Lankan ties and add momentum to the people-centric partnership. "Warm and special welcome!" he said along with photos of the Union minister receiving Disanayaka. The Sri Lankan leader will also meet President Droupadi

No problem with Adani funding Colombo Port project: Sri Lankan minister

The Sri Lankan government wants to see the deep-water container terminal project at the Colombo port go ahead and has no issue with the Adani-led conglomerate using its own resources to fund it, ports minister Bimal Rathnayaka has said. In an exchange filing late on Tuesday, Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd said the project "is on track for commissioning by early next year" and added that the company will fund the ongoing project through "internal accruals", aligning with its capital management strategy. It is a very important project for revenue generation for the port, we are keen to see it going ahead," Rathnayaka told reporters during a tour of the port on Thursday. He said the Adani group's decision to reject funding from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) was its own and Sri Lanka had no issues with it. The DFC, in November last year, agreed to provide a USD 553 million loan to support the development, construction, and operation of a deep-water container termi

Will use own resources: Adani opts out of US funding for Colombo project

Billionaire Gautam Adani-led conglomerate on Tuesday said it will use its own resources to fund a Sri Lankan port project and not seek US funding. In an exchange filing late on Tuesday, Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd said the project "is on track for commissioning by early next year" and added that the company will fund the ongoing project through "internal accruals", aligning with its capital management strategy. The company said it has withdrawn its 2023 "request for financing from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)". The US International Development Finance Corp, in November last year, agreed to provide a USD 553 million loan to support the development, construction, and operation of a deep-water container terminal called the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) at the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The CWIT is being developed by a consortium of Adani Ports, Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings Plc, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). DFC ...

SL Navy arrests 8 Indian fishermen for crossing border, seizes 2 boats

Fishermen who went to sea in 324 boats from Mandapam north coast of Ramanathapuram district on Dec 7 were fishing near Delft Island in Palk Bay Sea area when Sri Lanka Navy arrived and seized 2 boats

Sri Lankan govt to probe 'false media propaganda' over Heroes Day events

Sri Lankan authorities have announced an investigation into "false media propaganda" aimed at discrediting the government for permitting commemorative events in the Northern Province for those who lost their lives during the decades-long separatist conflict with the LTTE. The week-long events commemorating 'Maaveerar Naal' or Great Heroes Day are observed from November 27 by some Tamil political groups and the relatives of those killed in the conflict. We were not opposed to the relatives celebrating their dead," Ananda Wijepala, the public security minister told reporters. However there is no room for celebrating the LTTE who remains a banned terrorist organisation," Wijepala stressed. He said the LTTE remains a banned organisation as per the government gazette of 29 August 2011. Wijepala said an investigation would start on false media propaganda carried out to discredit the government for allowing LTTE celebrations in the north and east. Slain LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabakara

500 kg of crystal meth seized during India-Sri Lanka joint naval operation

Around 500 kg of crystal methamphetamine narcotics were seized from two fishing vessels in the Arabian Sea in a joint operation by the navies of India and Sri Lanka. The joint operation came after Indian Navy's long-range maritime patrol aircraft and drones carried out a surveillance mission in the critical sea lanes based on inputs from the Sri Lankan Navy, officials said. The narcotics were seized on November 25, they added. The two boats, along with the crew and seized narcotics, are being handed over to Sri Lankan authorities for further legal action, the Indian Navy said on Friday. The Indian Navy's Gurugram-based Information Fusion Centre (IFC) that has emerged as a key hub in tracking movements of ships and other developments in the Indian Ocean region also provided certain details for the operation, the officials said. "Based on information received from the Sri Lankan Navy regarding probable narcotics smuggling by Sri Lankan flagged fishing vessels in the Arabian Sea, the

SriLankan Airlines eyes more Indian tourists with Ramayana Trail package

Seeing India as a place that offers "enormous growth" opportunities, SriLankan Airlines aims to increase flights to the country as well as attract more tourists, including with the Ramayana Trail package, according to a top airline official. The Ramayana Trail will help people connect with 20 significant locations in Sri Lanka that are linked to the Ramayana story. SriLankan Airlines CEO Richard Nuttall said growth in the number of tourists from India has been stellar this year but still below the pre-Covid numbers. He was speaking at a function in the national capital for the launch of the Ramayana Trail package on Saturday evening. High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Kshenuka Senewiratne was also present. Till the end of October this year, around 20 per cent of the tourists who came to Sri Lanka were from India. "We have been looking at how to lift and rejuvenate tourism from India to Sri Lanka to the next level," he said while mentioning the Ramayana Trail and added that it

Jaishankar congratulates Herath on re-appointment as SL's foreign minister

Dissanayake, needed a clear majority to fulfil his promises and his National People's Power (NPP) coalition secured a two-thirds majority in the 225-member parliament, winning 159 seats, whereas

Coast Guard Chief Paramesh calls on India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Chief Director General S Paramesh visited Sri Lanka on Monday and met with India's High Commissioner, Santosh Jha, to discuss ways to strengthen regional maritime security.

Sri Lanka Navy arrests 12 Indian fishermen for alleged illegal fishing

The Sri Lankan Navy on Sunday arrested 12 Indian fishermen and seized their trawler for allegedly poaching in its territorial waters, according to an official statement. With the latest arrest, the number of Indian nationals apprehended this year by the island nation in such incidents has risen to 462. The fishermen were arrested, and their trawler was seized off the coast of Point Pedro, Jaffna, in the northern province, the Sri Lanka Navy said in a press release. The 12 apprehended fishermen were escorted to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for further action, it said. The Sri Lankan Navy has "held 62 Indian fishing boats and 462 Indian fishermen in island waters thus far in 2024 and handed them over to authorities for legal action," the statement said. The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing thei

Sri Lankan president Anura to visit India after parliamentary polls

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's visit to Delhi at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will happen only after November this year, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said on Tuesday. We will discuss dates for the visit only after we form the new government, Herath told reporters here. Voting for the parliamentary election is to take place on November 14, almost 10 months ahead of the schedule. Dissanayake was elected on September 21. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar became the first foreign dignitary to meet Dissanayake after the presidential polls. He extended the invitation to Dissanayake from the Indian prime minister. Earlier in February this year, Dissanayake visited Delhi, as a leader of opposition, for a formal visit, first such by any leader of the Marxist JVP (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (People's Liberation Front). The JVP, which Dissanayake heads since 2014, had run a bloody anti-India movement in Sri Lanka during 1987-90. The party had held that the 198

EAM meets Dissanayake, pledges support for Sri Lanka's economic recovery

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and discussed ways to deepen ongoing cooperation and strengthen India-Sri Lanka ties, and assured India's continued support to the island nation's economic rebuilding. Jaishankar arrived here in the morning on a day-long visit, less than a fortnight after President Dissanayake was sworn in. Honoured to call on President @anuradisanayake today in Colombo. Conveyed warm greetings of President Droupadi Murmu and PM @narendramodi, Jaishankar posted on X. Appreciate his warm sentiments and guidance for the India-Sri Lanka relations. Discussed ways to deepen ongoing cooperation and strengthen India-Sri Lanka ties for the benefit of people of two countries and the region, he said further in the post. Jaishankar is the first foreign dignitary to visit Sri Lanka since the National People's Power (NPP) government led by Dissanayake came to power on September 23. He was received at the airport

EAM Jaishankar arrives in Sri Lanka to meet new President Dissanayake

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived here on Friday on a day-long visit to meet with the Sri Lankan leadership, less than a fortnight after Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn in as the president of the island nation. "Good to be in Colombo again. Look forward to my engagements with the Sri Lankan leadership today," Jaishankar posted on X soon after his landing at the Colombo airport. Jaishankar is the first foreign dignitary to visit Sri Lanka since the National People's Power (NPP) government led by Dissanayake came to power on September 23. He was received at the airport by Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardena and the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha. Jaishankar is expected to call on President Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, officials here said. During his visit, the minister is expected to further cement the bilateral relationship with the new NPP government in Colombo, they said. Jaishan

Sri Lanka orders audit of Indian firms' visa outsourcing deal amid scandal

The new Sri Lanka government headed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has ordered a forensic audit into the visa outsourcing contract with Indian firms alongside a Dubai-based firm allegedly involved in a scandal on arrival visa system for tourists. A forensic audit has been ordered on Indian firms GBS Technology and IVS Global FZCO along with VFS Global which were in April awarded the multimillion-dollar contract as a technology partner to process the visa applications of foreigners, Vijitha Herath, Public Security Minister said. We have initiated an immediate forensic audit to investigate irregularities," Herath said. This comes after the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered to remand Controller of Immigration and Emigration Harsha Ilukpitiya for contempt of court charges for his failure to implement an apex court order on the ongoing disputed system on the issue of on-arrival electronic tourist visas to the country. Herath said the airport immigration from Thursday night onwards

Sri Lanka's new President options: India or China, or India and China

As such, China does play a larger role in resolving this crisis but India can't be wished away, since it is a leading export destination for Lanka

Sri Lanka election is the latest sign India is losing its neighbourhood

Dissanayake has worried New Delhi because his party, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, made a name for itself in the 1980s with an anti-India terror campaign

Why Jaishankar sees India overcoming challenges in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh

Sri Lanka's new President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has been noted to have pro-China leanings, and his swearing in comes shortly after pro-India Sheikh Hasina's ouster from power in Bangladesh

Sri Lanka to Bangladesh: Is India facing a major geopolitical challenge?

Anura Kumara Dissanayake's swearing in as Sri Lanka's new President must have been closely followed in New Delhi, given that it came shortly after Sheikh Hasina's removal from power in Bangladesh

Sri Lanka's leftist President Dissanayake takes office as IMF worries grow

Dissanayake, 55, defeated opposition leader Sajith Premadasa after two rounds of counting in the country's first-ever runoff, sweeping Ranil Wickremesinghe, the previous president out of power