Archives

by Chulawansa Sirilal from Singapore

Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lee Sen Lung and Trade and Industries Minister George Yo held separate talks last morning (15), lasting an hour with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe discussing a Singapore Government's proposal to use Sri Lanka as the centre in bilateral Trade between India and Singapore.

Trade Minister George Yo told Prime Minister Wickremesinghe that now is the best time for such a proposal in view of the proposed construction of a bridge between Mannar and South India.

The two Ministers of Singapore expressed their hopes that the proposed bridge will eliminate the existing difficulties experienced at the Indian Airport and the Indian Harbour when goods are exported from Singapore and promised expertise of Singapore to launch this drive.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe answering the Singapore Ministers' proposal in the affirmative made the point that his Government is actively depending on the economic up-trend of South India for the economic progress of Sri Lanka and instructed Sri Lanka BOI Chairman Arjuna Mahendran who joined the discussion, to make suitable arrangements for the realization of this proposal.

Premier Wickremesinghe while expressing his hopes to revive the Free Trade Agreement between India and Sri Lanka promised the Singapore Ministers that he will use his good offices with Indian Premier Vajpayee and Opposition Leader Sonia Gandhi to pave the way to implement the Trade Agreement between India and Singapore via Sri Lanka.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager