Krishna's Lanka visit:

India urges strong ties

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

India would like to work closely with Sri Lanka to build a vibrant and multi-faceted partnership between the two countries and a strong rapport with new hopes, said India's External Affairs Minister S M Krishna yesterday.

The Minister addressing the media at the commencement of the Seventh Session of the Sri Lanka - India Joint Commission, said this Joint Commission will pave the way for resolving certain outstanding issues while symbolizing bilateral relationship between two countries.

Agreed minutes of the Seventh Session of the India - Sri Lanka Joint Commission were signed by Indian External Affairs Minister Krishna and Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister Professor GL Peiris. In addition the two parties exchanged instruments of ratification. Under this, agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in criminal matters between the two countries and agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons between India and Sri Lanka were signed.

"The sheer breadth of the bilateral engagement today, as is reflected in the Joint Commission discussions, is testimony to the fact that the relations have greatly diversified with the passage of time," Minister Krishna noted.

"The visit to Sri Lanka by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in 2008 and the visits to India by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in June and October this year have undoubtedly given the relations of the two countries a fillip. The relations are poised to develop further in an all round manner," Minister Krishna added. "To build on the vibrant and multi-faceted partnership between our two countries, it is important that we leverage our common strategic interests, further enhance connectivity and economic engagement, and promote people-to-people contacts," he said.

Krishna said that both countries can take advantages from the joint commission since attention will be drawn to settle issues in the fields of health, fishing, farming, agricultural and social. the 50,000 houses out of 100,000 being built in the North and the East for resettling people will be a symbol for strong Indo-Lanka coexistence.

Minister Peiris said that this joint commission will identify ways and means to work together.

The Minister appreciated the Indian assistance receiving especially for agriculture and fisheries sectors. Various programs are scheduled including launching a ferry service between two countries to upgrade tourism sector.

Indian assistance for oil and gas exploration was also appreciated by the minister.