Jaishankar Holds Bilateral Talks, Commissions Maritime Centre in Sri Lanka

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently engaged in wide-ranging talks with Sri Lanka's top leadership, including President Ranil Wickremesinghe. During the meeting, they jointly commissioned the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, which was built with a USD 6 million grant from India. This move signifies New Delhi's commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation with its time-tested neighbor.The discussions between Jaishankar and Wickremesinghe covered various areas of cooperation, including power, energy, connectivity, port infrastructure, aviation, digital technology, health, food security, education, and tourism. The Indian minister conveyed warm greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed appreciation for the progress made on bilateral projects and initiatives.Following the meeting, Jaishankar and Wickremesinghe virtually handed over 48 houses built under the Model Village Housing Project. Additionally, 106 houses in three up-country estates were handed over under Phase III of the Indian Housing Project. These initiatives were funded by India and aim to provide housing solutions to Sri Lankan citizens.The highlight of the visit was the commissioning of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC). The MRCC includes a center at Navy Headquarters in Colombo and a sub-center in Hambantota. Unmanned installations are also present at Galle, Arugambay, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kallarawa, Point Pedro, and Mollikulam. This collaboration between India and Sri Lanka in the maritime security domain serves as a response to China's increasing presence in the region.In addition to his meeting with President Wickremesinghe, Jaishankar also called on Prime Minister Gunawardena. They discussed plans for enhancing energy connectivity and developing the renewable energy sector. Key topics included Liquified Natural Gas supply, a proposed petroleum pipeline linking the two countries, and advancing oil and gas exploration projects.Furthermore, Jaishankar met with Foreign Minister M U M Ali Sabry to discuss greater multilateral cooperation, particularly in organizations such as BIMSTEC, IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association), and the UN. Both ministers emphasized the importance of capacity building and shared engagement.During his visit, Jaishankar also engaged with the Indian Origin Tamils (IOTs) community. He interacted with the leadership of Indian Origin Tamils and discussed development partnerships and further cooperation. Additionally, he met with an eight-member delegation of Tamil leaders from Northern and Eastern Provinces to discuss issues related to development and devolution in their respective provinces.The external affairs minister also met with opposition leaders, including former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. These meetings highlighted the bipartisan support for stronger India-Sri Lanka relations.Jaishankar reiterated India's commitment to its Neighbourhood First policy, which aims to develop friendly and mutually beneficial relations with all neighboring countries. The visit to Sri Lanka aligns with India's vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), which emphasizes maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.This standalone bilateral visit to Sri Lanka marks Jaishankar's first foreign visit in his second term as the external affairs minister. It reinforces India's continued commitment to its closest maritime neighbor and time-tested friend.In conclusion, the discussions between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Sri Lanka's top leadership focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in various sectors. The commissioning of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre and the handover of houses under housing projects demonstrate India's commitment to supporting Sri Lanka's development. The visit further strengthened the longstanding ties between the two countries and emphasized India's Neighbourhood First policy.

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