Indo-Lanka ties becoming stronger- Presidential Secretary

Chaminda Perera and Mahinda Aluthgedara

Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga yesterday said the historical ties and friendship between India and Sri Lanka should be further enhanced.

Weeratunga was speaking at the inauguration of a seminar on Sri Lanka- India relations: Vision 2025 conducted by the Sri Lanka Pragathi Sansadaya and Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo yesterday.

The Sri Lanka India Pragathi Sansadaya, a brainchild of President Mahinda Rajapaksa will help boost existing relations between two countries.

The Presidential Secretary commended the President for his invaluable support to further cement the centuries old Indo Lanka relations through this organisation.

Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Aloka Prasad said seminars of this sort will help strengthen bilateral relations and thanked the organisers.

The seminar focused on historical, cultural, economic, trade, social and political relations between the two countries under three main sessions.

The first session discussed how our historical ties were strengthened.

This session discussed how Indian influence in all aspects were transformed into Sri Lankan identity and the Sri Lankan influence in India in pre colonial time.

It also focused on the Western impact on Sri Lankan and India.

The economic and trade relations session focused on how to identify the parameters of a level playing field for economic and trade relations between two countries. It was disclosed at the session that the terms and conditions of economic interaction and trade between two countries should be drafted through a transparent and participatory process which draws in both economic and political stakeholders of the two countries.

The third session explored how the two countries could enhance their bilateral relations in a modern way. Former SAARC Secretary General Nihal Rodrigo was the moderator.

Foreign Affairs Secretary of Indian Congress Dr. Ravini Thakur, D. Kulathunga Rajapaksa, Disaster Management and Human Rights Ministry Secretary Prof Rajiva Wijesinghe, Former Indian Ambassador in Sri Lanka N.N. Jha were among the resource persons. Presidential Advisor Sunimal Fernando also spoke.