Sambuddha Jayanthi celebrations:

India assures fullest support

India will actively support Sri Lanka in the 2600th Sambuddha Jayanthi celebrations to be held in 2011, Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said when he called on Prime Minister D M Jayaratne at the Prime Minister's office yesterday.

India will provide facilities for the exposition of Kapilawastu Relics in Sri Lanka. A Buddha Statue in commemoration of the 2600 anniversary will be constructed at Saranath by the Indian Government, he said.

The seven member Indian delegation comprised Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Ashok K Kantha, External Affairs Minister's Advisor Raghvendra Shastri, two Joint Secretaries and Deputy High Commissioner of Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka Vikram Misri. Prime Minister's Secretary S Amarasekara, High commissioner of Sri Lanka in India Prasad Kariyawasam, Foreign Affairs Additional Secretary Ranjith Uyangoda and Prime Minister's Advisor and Private Secretary were associated with the Prime Minister at the discussion.

The Indian External Affairs Minister said that great opportunities and space had opened up for Sri Lanka after vanquishing a 30 year terrorism, to launch development projects for which India will be extending her fullest support.

The projects already launched in the North and the East are measures that both countries have taken in collaboration with each other to uplift the living standards of the people in those areas. There is greater potential for bilateral co-operation for development of tourism, trade, exchange of educational and cultural program and projects between the two countries, he said.

The Foreign Minister also referred to the opening of Indian Consulate Offices in Hambantota and Jaffna which he would officiate. He wished that Sri Lanka would succeed in her bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth games.

Prime Minister Jayaratne touched on the deep understanding and close relations that had existed between the two countries for centuries which had bonded the two countries together.

He said that Sri Lanka's history is abound with many interactions with India which took the form of wars, invasions and immigration of peoples between the two countries. However those interactions have resulted developing Sri Lanka into a multi- ethnic country.

During the British Rule Indian labour was brought into Sri Lanka for plantation agriculture. Though the Indian labour did not enjoy a comfortable life earlier, they are now well looked after by the Government. Indian labour is no longer treated as Indians. They are considered Sri Lankans. The government's effort is to build harmony and togetherness among the ethnic groups in the country, the Prime Minister said.

He also referred to development assistance extended by India and rehabilitation and reconstruction of the North and the East. The g

ift of 50,000 houses and other facilities for the economic uplift of the people in the North by the Indian Government need to be highly commended.

Indian assistance for rehabilitation of the railway track between Vavuniya to Kankesanthurai will further improve interaction between the people in the North and the South. It would also contribute immensely to the economic development of both the North and the South of Sri Lanka, he said.