Re-election of President made a strong Foundation for Indo-Sri Lanka Relations - Indian Foreign Secretary

Indo-Lanka relations have taken a positive path with confidence with the re-election of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and it will continue for the future said Indian Foreign Secretary Ms. Nirupama Srimathi Rao, who was in Sri Lanka on a three day visit.

The Indian Foreign Secretary congratulated the President for his resounding victory in the recent Presidential Election and observed that so much had taken place for the better in Sri Lanka since she was last here as High Commissioner.

Indian Foreign Secretary made these observations when she met President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday (March 07) at President's House where Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha too accompanied her.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was assisted by his Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Foreign Ministry Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe and Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivaard Cabral in his talks with Nirupama Rao.

Ms Rao has also thanked the President on re-establishing democracy in the county.

She had told the President that Sri Lanka which she wished from the date when she worked as Indian high commissioner in Colombo has been recreated only by present President after defeating the terrorism.

Discussing current political developments in Sri Lanka, she said that the presence of more than 1,000 candidates in the forthcoming general election and the North and Eastern Provinces alone showed the enthusiasm of the people for the democratic process, and the change that had taken place with the restoration of peace. “There is a great sense of hope and optimism in the air wherever I have been to”, she said.

The Indian Foreign Secretary is here to participate in the opening of the Sri-Lanka-India Centre of English Language Training ( SLICELT) at Peradeniya earlier yesterday , said the President’s vision to promote the teaching of English in Sri Lanka deserved commendation, and that India was glad to assist in this task.

President Rajapaksa thanked India for the assistance given to the furtherance of his policy of providing English as a Life Skill to Sri Lankan youth.

Ms. Nirupama Rao also said the participation of more than 3,000 pilgrims from India at the recent feast at the shrine of St, Anthony in Kachchativu was a further indication of the good interaction between the Sri Lankan and Indian people.

Commenting on the forthcoming general election, President Rajapaksa said there was much enthusiasm by the people to participate in it, being the first nation-wide election of representatives to parliament after the restoration of peace, and that he was looking forward to working with the many new faces and leaders who are expected to be elected, especially from the North and the East.

Sri Lanka President office also said that Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao when she met President Rajapaksa today also said that Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is looking forward to an early visit of Presaident Rajapaksa to New Delhi. when she met President Rajapaksa today, the President’s office said.

In her very first visit to the island in her new capacity, she had also pledged the support of Indian government to construct the railway line which runs to North. New developments for fisheries industry, the setting up of proposed thermo power project and several other topics have also been included in the discussion, the Presidential Secretariat spokesman said.

- Asian Tribune -