EAM Jaishankar to visit Sri Lanka on June 20; will discuss bilateral partnership, connectivity projects
| 2024-06-19
The visit to Sri Lanka will be EAM S Jaishankar's first bilateral visit after the formation of the new Government. (File)
India's engagement in Sri Lanka is reflected through a robust development partnership portfolio
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay an official visit to Sri Lanka on June 20, 2024 to hold extensive discussions on giving a further boost to the partnership between the two nations.
This will be EAM Jaishankar's first bilateral visit after the formation of the new Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Announcing the visit on Wednesday (June 19, 2024), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said EAM Jaishankar will have meetings with the leadership of Sri Lanka on wide-ranging issues of the partnership.
According to the MEA, the visit will add momentum to connectivity projects and other mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors. "Reaffirming India's Neighbourhood First Policy, the visit underlines India's continued commitment to Sri Lanka as its closest maritime neighbour and time-tested friend," the MEA stated.
India's engagement in Sri Lanka is reflected through a development partnership portfolio that boasts USD 5 billion, including almost USD 600 million in grants. Here are some of the major areas of cooperation:
India-Sri Lanka Energy Partnership
India and Sri Lanka are collaborating on an ambitious power connectivity project valued at approximately USD 1.2 billion. This initiative aims to interlink the electrical grids of these two South Asian neighbours through an undersea transmission line, promising a future of enhanced energy security for Sri Lanka.
The project envisages a direct power conduit that will bridge Anuradhapura, situated in the heart of Sri Lanka, with Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, India.
Officials of the two countries have also been discussing a multi-faceted two-way oil pipeline and other energy-centric initiatives.
Economic & Trade Cooperation Agreement
India and Sri Lanka have also relaunched negotiations on an Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) by holding the 12th round of negotiations in Colombo, Sri Lanka from October 30, 2023 to November 1, 2023.
The pact aims to comprehensively enhance bilateral trade and investments in new and priority areas. The two countries had 11 rounds of bilateral talks from 2016 to 2018. Thereafter the negotiations were paused. Colombo and New Delhi are now keen to finalise the agreement to help rebuild the Sri Lankan economy.
The Indian Housing Project
In November last year, two agreements were signed to construct 10,000 houses in Sri Lanka's plantation areas as part of the fourth phase of the Indian Housing Project in the island nation. The project is a major initiative underscoring India's commitment to development cooperation with its neighbour.
Phase-IV, spanning 11 districts and 6 provinces, is part of India's wider commitment to construct 60,000 houses in Sri Lanka. The Indian Housing Project is a major symbol of India’s rehabilitation support to Sri Lanka following damage and destruction during decades of conflict in the country’s Northern and Eastern Provinces.
With 46,000 homes already completed and the third phase (4,000 houses) nearing completion, the Indian Housing Project has become a cornerstone of its bilateral partnership with Sri Lanka.
This will be EAM Jaishankar's first bilateral visit after the formation of the new Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Announcing the visit on Wednesday (June 19, 2024), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said EAM Jaishankar will have meetings with the leadership of Sri Lanka on wide-ranging issues of the partnership.
According to the MEA, the visit will add momentum to connectivity projects and other mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors. "Reaffirming India's Neighbourhood First Policy, the visit underlines India's continued commitment to Sri Lanka as its closest maritime neighbour and time-tested friend," the MEA stated.
India's engagement in Sri Lanka is reflected through a development partnership portfolio that boasts USD 5 billion, including almost USD 600 million in grants. Here are some of the major areas of cooperation:
India-Sri Lanka Energy Partnership
India and Sri Lanka are collaborating on an ambitious power connectivity project valued at approximately USD 1.2 billion. This initiative aims to interlink the electrical grids of these two South Asian neighbours through an undersea transmission line, promising a future of enhanced energy security for Sri Lanka.
The project envisages a direct power conduit that will bridge Anuradhapura, situated in the heart of Sri Lanka, with Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, India.
Officials of the two countries have also been discussing a multi-faceted two-way oil pipeline and other energy-centric initiatives.
Economic & Trade Cooperation Agreement
India and Sri Lanka have also relaunched negotiations on an Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) by holding the 12th round of negotiations in Colombo, Sri Lanka from October 30, 2023 to November 1, 2023.
The pact aims to comprehensively enhance bilateral trade and investments in new and priority areas. The two countries had 11 rounds of bilateral talks from 2016 to 2018. Thereafter the negotiations were paused. Colombo and New Delhi are now keen to finalise the agreement to help rebuild the Sri Lankan economy.
The Indian Housing Project
In November last year, two agreements were signed to construct 10,000 houses in Sri Lanka's plantation areas as part of the fourth phase of the Indian Housing Project in the island nation. The project is a major initiative underscoring India's commitment to development cooperation with its neighbour.
Phase-IV, spanning 11 districts and 6 provinces, is part of India's wider commitment to construct 60,000 houses in Sri Lanka. The Indian Housing Project is a major symbol of India’s rehabilitation support to Sri Lanka following damage and destruction during decades of conflict in the country’s Northern and Eastern Provinces.
With 46,000 homes already completed and the third phase (4,000 houses) nearing completion, the Indian Housing Project has become a cornerstone of its bilateral partnership with Sri Lanka.
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