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The Government has not held any discussions nor have entered into any agreements with India regarding the proposed Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) between India and Sri Lanka during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent state visit to India.
Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath said this during the special media conference held yesterday (20) at the Department of Government Information to create awareness and to provide insights into President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent state visit to India.
The Minister said that the relationship between India and Sri Lanka was further strengthened as a result of this state visit to India by the President and the Sri Lankan delegation, as they were well received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian President Droupadi Murmu and other Indian authorities, which is a significant victory for the country and will further benefit Sri Lanka and its people in many ways with important decisions that were made that are highly beneficial for Sri Lanka and its people in economic, cultural, digital, technological, environmental and many other spheres.
Bilateral talks were held between the Indian and Sri Lankan authorities and a statement by the President of Sri Lanka and the Indian Prime Minister were made separately followed by a joint statement by both.
Two Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) were signed between the two countries. An MOU was signed for a two week training programme on public service to be conducted for 1,500 Sri Lankan state officials in India for the next five years. A second MOU was signed on the removal of the existing double taxation for businesses of Sri Lankans in India and Indians in Sri Lanka where currently such businessmen are taxed by both countries which will benefit the business community economically in both countries going forward as a result.
There were no agreements that were signed besides the two MOUs and only discussions were held on technical matters and development projects between both countries during the three day state visit of India by President Dissanayake.
In-depth discussions were held about the issues faced by the Sri Lankan fishermen in the North and the South Indian fishing community to find further solutions to them. President Dissanayake emphasized to Indian authorities about the ongoing problem of South Indian fishermen coming to Sri Lankan waters and continuing to carry out bottom trawler fishing activities and also being arrested by the Sri Lankan authorities for trespassing into Sri Lankan territorial waters for fishing. Both parties agreed to arrive at an expedited permanent solution to these continued fishing problems.
The Indian government assured that the ongoing housing projects carried out with Indian aid in its third and fourth stages constructed in the country will be further strengthened and continued.
Indian Prime Minister Modi has promised to convert the complete loan amount given by India into a grant, to renovate the Mahawa – Omanthai railway line with the construction of the traffic signal system which is nearing completion that will run two trains between Anuradhapura and Jaffna, which is a significant victory achieved by the Sri Lankan government during this visit.
India has also agreed to provide all funds required as a grant to build the Karainagar Boat complex that will greatly benefit the fishing industry in the North and the entire country.
The government of India also agreed to expedite the removal of existing legal barriers for the Mahabodhi Foundation in receiving foreign donations.
Sri Lankan proposal was made by President Dissanayake to Indian Prime Minister Modi emphasising on the need to discuss and finalise on the demarcation of the Sri Lankan Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which extends from the Sri Lankan coastline of the Sri Lankan maritime zone as the finalized EEZ area need to be communicated to the United Nations after agreement reached with India, which the Indian government agreed to commence discussions on, to arrive at a final agreement.
The President has assured the Indian Prime Minister that the Sri Lankan territory including land and sea areas will not be permitted to be used by anybody including any foreign powers that will cause security threats to India or the Asian region in any way.
Discussions were made between the two countries on the ongoing proposed power and energy, electricity development projects which face some technical problems, besides technical, political and cultural fields requiring development that will benefit both countries.
The Sri Lankan government agreed to continue the Sampur solar power project that an agreement has already been reached before, between the two countries which the Ceylon Electricity Board and an Indian company have already signed an agreement on the project which will generate solar power for the country.
It has been agreed by the Sri Lankan government to hold discussions over power and energy and electricity generating projects between both countries using Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Wind Power, to export excess electricity generated by solar power and wind power which are natural resources that the country possess to other countries through India, under the BIMSTEC economic cooperation which will greatly benefit the country bringing in revenue.Agreement has been made to continue further discussions in the future on the proposed joint venture between Sri Lanka, India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) on construction of a multi-product oil pipeline between Sri Lanka and India to supply affordable and reliable energy, establishment of a high-capacity power grid interconnection between India and Sri Lanka while prioritising environmental protection through flora and fauna project. Minister Herath emphasised that the Sri Lankan government under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will not agree to anything that is detrimental to the country in any way.
Varuna Dayaratne
