Indo-Lanka ties could be an example - Indian President

India and Sri Lanka can forge a bilateral relationship in mutual co-operation which can be taken as an example by the region and at international level, Indian President Prathiba Patil said proposing a toast at the State banquet hosted to visiting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan, New Delhi Wednesday.

The present peaceful situation in the north would help the existing bilateral relationship between the two countries to reach a new high, she added.

The Indian President also praised the Sri Lankan President for the commitment shown by him during the current visit, to improve bilateral ties between the two nations.

She congratulated President Rajapaksa on his recent election victories. To page 13 See also page 5

India and Sri Lanka can forge a bilateral relationship in mutual co-operation which can be taken as an example by the region and at international level, Indian President Prathiba Patil said proposing a toast at the State banquet hosted to visiting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan, New Delhi Wednesday.

The present peaceful situation in the north would help the existing bilateral relationship between the two countries to reach a new high, she added.

The Indian President also praised the Sri Lankan President for the commitment shown by him during the current visit, to improve bilateral ties between the two nations.

She congratulated President Rajapaksa on his recent election victories.

The Indian President said that she believed Sri Lanka could reach an amicable settlement to major problems through mutual understanding and dialogue to propagate an era of reconciliation and permanent peace.

In addition the President said that she hoped that the remaining internally displaced people too would be able to reach their home environs in a climate of security and peace in the near future..

President Patel also noted that India would continue to lend whatever assistance possible to Sri Lanka in their development efforts and the proposed visit by Tamilnadu Parliamentarians could also be viewed as a catalyst in this regard. India also promised Sri Lanka to provide a soft loan of US $ 800 million to upgrade railways in addition to the earlier promised loans amounting to Rs 5,000 million.

Also Indian assistance has been promised to upgrade agriculture, school buildings, housing, infrastructure and to assist orphaned widows.

Indian financial assistance too is to be provided to build a cultural centre and a vocational training institute in Jaffna. The Duraiappa stadium too is to be renovated with Indian assistance.

The Indian President on the occasion also emphasized the need to improve bilateral trade and investments between the two countries.