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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday, 5 January, reached Colombo for a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, where he is set to meet the island’s top leadership and discuss a host of bilateral issues.
His first foreign visit of the year followed after an invitation by Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena.
S Jaishankar also tweeted on Wednesday, “Thank FM Dinesh Gunawardena
for his invitation and hospitality. Appropriate that Sri Lanka is my first visit in 2021. Reviewed our cooperarion and will work closely to fulfil the vision of our leaders.”
Speaking as the COVID-19 crisis continues, the EAM said, “We are now looking at post-COVID cooperation and I carry back with me Sri Lanka's interest in accessing vaccines from India.”
Jaishankar also brought up the expectations of the Tamil minority of the region, saying India will extend its support to the reconciliation process in the country and a political outlook that ‘encourages ethnic harmony’.
He said, “as we promote peace and well-being in the region, India has been strongly committed to the unity, stability and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. Our support for the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka is long-standing, as indeed for an inclusive political outlook that encourages ethnic harmony,” Hindustan Times quoted.
“That applies equally to the commitments made by the Sri Lankan government on meaningful devolution, including the 13th amendment of the Constitution. The progress and prosperity of Sri Lanka will surely be advanced as a consequence,” he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa had spoken at a virtual summit in September 2019, emphasising the need to strengthen ties between the two nations.
(With inputs by PTI and Hindustan Times)
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