Sri Lanka reassures India that it won't allow its land to be used by any third country to compromise India's security. Sri Lanka’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya spoke exclusively to Asianet Newsable's Anish Kumar
First Published Feb 23, 2024, 8:58 AM IST
Sri Lanka has reiterated that its land will not be used by any third country to jeopardise India’s security concerns, amidst the Chinese spy vessel docking in the Maldives waters on the same day. On the sidelines of the 9th edition of Raisina Dialogue in Delhi, Sri Lanka’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya told Asianet Newsable: "India should not be worried about the security concern. We know India’s growing stature and we will not be used by any third party or country to jeopardize India’s security. So through honest and candid exchange of views, we can overcome any problem."
Till October 2023, China was allowed to dock its spy ship in Sri Lankan waters amidst India’s fears that the vessel could be used to surveil the region. However, earlier this year Colombo banned entry of the Chinese research vessel in its waters, which is seen as growing cooperation in the wake of New Delhi stepping in with massive financial and material assistance.
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Pledges support for Economic and Social Rights of the Upcountry Tamil community – The President.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe underscored the government’s commitment to safeguarding the economic and social rights of the upcountry Tamil community during a ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat. He acknowledged their significant contribution to the nation’s economy and expressed intentions to unite political representatives from the upcountry, transcending party lines, to present collaborative proposals within the upcoming month.
The occasion marked the virtual launch of the 4th stage of the Indian Housing project, ‘Bharat-Lanka,’ aimed at constructing 10,000 houses for plantation sector workers. President Wickremesinghe, along with Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development Jeevan Thondaman and Indian High Commissioner H.E. Santhosh Jha, virtually unveiled the foundation stone plaque for 1300 houses across 45 plantation estates in ten districts.
President Wickremesinghe expressed gratitude to the Government of India for their support, particularly on the 200th anniversary of the upcountry Tamil community’s arrival in Sri Lanka. He highlighted efforts to negotiate land acquisition from estate companies for housing construction and emphasized the government’s commitment to advancing education standards within the upcountry.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including State Minister of Irrigation and Water Supply Shasheendra Rajapaksa and Governor of Central Province Lalith U Gamage, highlighting the significance of the housing project and bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka.
"Governance reforms of the last 10 years under PM Modi have gone beyond the realms of mere governance by improving the work culture as well as providing an optimum working environment, while at the same time resulting in far reaching socio-economic benefits in the long run": Dr Jitendra Singh
Dr Jitendra Singh addresses participants of the ‘Special Capacity Building Programme for Senior Civil Servants of Sri Lanka’
Governance reforms under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi have helped the Indian economy through huge savings.
Technology is being widely used to result in savings and in delivery of utilities as well as services to the public.
This was stated by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh while addressing the participants of the ‘Special Capacity Building Programme for Senior Civil Servants of Sri Lanka’ in New Delhi today.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, adopting Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has resulted in saving of Rs.1 lakh crore by removing middlemen and also saved millions of poor households from starvation during the Covid Pandemic. Besides, the Government also saved Rs.65,000 crore through the Government E-Marketplace (GeM) portal.
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