Will not allow Lankan soil to be used against India, Dissanayake tells PM Modi | Latest news India

NEW DELHI: India and Sri Lanka on Monday agreed to steps to strengthen strategic and security cooperation, even as visiting Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he would not allow the ground of his country be used against Indian interests.

The Indian side used the meeting with Dissanayake, on his first foreign visit since he became president in September, to voice New Delhi's concerns over the visit of Chinese surveillance ships to Sri Lanka. Modi also urged Dissanayake to fulfill the aspirations of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority by fully implementing the Constitution and holding elections to provincial councils.

Dissanayake's decision to make India the destination of his first foreign visit is significant as his Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party has long been known for its anti-India stance. The National People's Power (NPP) coalition led by the left-wing president also won the November general elections.

Noting that Dissanayake's visit gives fresh impetus to bilateral relations, Modi said in a joint media interaction after his meeting with the Sri Lankan leader: We have adopted a futuristic vision for our partnership. We have focused on investment-led growth and connectivity in our economic partnership.

Dissanayake said he has given Modi assurance that we will not allow our land to be used in a manner detrimental to India's interests. A joint statement said Dissanayake reiterated Sri Lanka's stated position of not allowing its territory to be used in a manner contrary to India's security as well as regional stability.

Both sides decided that physical, digital and energy connectivity would be important pillars of our partnership, Modi said, speaking in Hindi. We both fully agree that our security interests are linked. We have decided to finalize a defense cooperation agreement soon, he said.

Modi said Dissanayake spoke about his inclusive approach when the two sides discussed reconstruction and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. We hope that the Government of Sri Lanka will respond to the aspirations of the Tamils ​​and fulfill its commitment to fully implement the Constitution of Sri Lanka and hold elections to the provincial councils, he said.

Dissanayake noted that people from all parts of Sri Lanka had placed their trust in the nuclear power plant and said his country's development must be inclusive. Speaking in Sinhala, he added: “People from all parts of the country, belonging to all communities and all faiths and religions, voted for us. Diversity is a cornerstone of democracy, I know it, I understand it.

Dissanayake's assurances are seen as crucial as India is concerned about the increasing number of visits to Sri Lanka by Chinese research or surveillance vessels, particularly to the Chinese-controlled Hambantota port. Although Colombo has imposed a moratorium on such visits, this is expected to end early next year.

The Indian side has also pushed Sri Lanka's political leadership to take into account the rights and aspirations of the country's Tamil minority, including by holding provincial council elections and fully implementing constitutional provisions related to the rights of the country. community.

The joint statement highlighted the common security interests of India and Sri Lanka and the importance of regular dialogue based on mutual trust and transparency and giving primacy to each other's security concerns. traditional threats.

The two leaders also agreed to advance maritime and security collaboration, and Dissanayake thanked India for its support in providing a Dornier aircraft for maritime surveillance. In addition to agreeing to strengthen intelligence and information sharing, the two sides will work towards concluding a framework agreement on defense cooperation, the joint statement said.

The two sides will also cooperate in the field of hydrography and India will provide platforms and defense assets to augment Sri Lanka's defense capabilities. They will also intensify collaboration through joint exercises, maritime surveillance and defense exchanges, and India will help Sri Lanka strengthen its disaster mitigation, relief and rehabilitation capabilities.

Foreign Minister Vikram Misri told a press briefing that the Indian side had raised the issue of Chinese research vessels docking in Sri Lanka and said: “We have highlighted the importance and sensitivity of our security interests in this region. President Dissanayake was very outspoken in stating that he would ensure that the use of Sri Lankan territory does not do anything that could impact India's security.

The Sri Lankan government is studying the matter and India is confident that it will give due attention to such important issues, Misri said.

Responding to a question on the interests of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority, Misri said Dissanayake himself had referred to the mandate he had received, including supporting the northern and eastern regions of Sri Lanka, which have a significant Tamil population. He has received support from all corners of the country and hence he is now expected to live up to these expectations, he said.

We welcome the fact that he raised issues related to the elections of provincial councils… These are important markers in terms of solution or approach to the ethnic question which will eventually lead to resolving these issues through justice, peace and equity. [and] dignity, Misri said.

The two sides also discussed the problems faced by the fishermen of the two countries and the leaders agreed to continue to resolve these problems in a humanitarian manner. In this regard, they also stressed the need to take measures to avoid any aggressive behavior or violence, the joint statement said.