High Commission of Sri Lanka in India

India - Sri lanka Relations
Board of the India-Sri Lanka Foundation meets to approve projects PDF Print option in slimbox / lytebox? (info) E-mail
Official Documents - India - Sri lanka Relations
Written by Administrator   
Thursday, 01 July 2010 08:48
The India-Sri Lanka Foundation will hold a Board Meeting in New Delhi from 2-3 July 2010 with a view to fostering bilateral relations through the enhancement of economic, scientific, educational, technical and cultural cooperation, as well as promoting greater understanding between the peoples of the two countries.
 
Activities funded so far by the Foundation include research and other education activities at institutions of learning located in India and Sri Lanka; Facilitating visits and exchanges of scholars, academics, professionals, artists and experts of the two countries; Assisting activities such as seminars, symposia and workshops on subjects of common interest and extending financial support to those voluntary civil society organisations in both India and Sri Lanka whose work facilitates achievement of the objectives of the Foundation.
 
Since its formation, the Foundation has financed and extended assistance to nearly 200 projects ranging from archaeological studies, exchange programs of academia, research related to Indo-Lanka relations, assistance to participate in seminars/workshops, publications, art exhibitions, training programs and travel assistance for participation in events in the realm of art & culture, student exchange programmes involving schools and colleges and film festivals in both countries.
 
The Foundation encourages individuals and organisations to forward worthwhile proposals falling under its objectives to be considered by the Board for supporting.
The India-Sri Lanka Foundation was established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the governments of India and Sri Lanka on   28th December 1998 with equal contributions of SLR. 40 Million and INR. 20 Million respectively to the Corpus Fund. The Government of India has made additional contributions to the Corpus Fund recently, making its total contributions to INR. 45 million.
 
The management and direction of the affairs of the Foundation are vested in a Board of Directors consisting of 6 Directors. The High Commissioners of Sri Lanka to India and the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka are Co-Chairpersons and the two governments have nominated two Members each to the Board.
The two Board Members nominated by the Government of Sri Lanka are Mr. Sunimal Fernando, Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka and Mr. Thirukumar Nadesan, Managing Director, Asia Project Services Ltd., while the two Board Members from India are Mr. M. Rasgotra, Former Foreign Secretary of India and Prof. P.V. Indiresan, Former Director of IIT-Madras.
  
High Commission of Sri Lanka
New Delhi
 
1 July 2010 
 
Speech made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Banquet hosted by President Smt. Pratibha Patil, 9 June 2010 PDF Print option in slimbox / lytebox? (info) E-mail
Official Documents - India - Sri lanka Relations
Written by Administrator   
Tuesday, 22 June 2010 05:17
Your Excellency Srimathi Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India,
Your Excellency Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.

The distinguished gathering this evening and the elegant setting of Rashtrapati Bhawan, bring back memories of the warm goodwill of my first State visit to India in 2005 soon after my first election. Today, I have the pleasure of being here after being re-elected for a second term of office, with the strength of the historic mandate conferred on my Government.

Bonds between our two countries go back to the mists of history. Since the days of Emperor Asoka, whose kindness led to Sri Lanka receiving the noble Message of the Buddha, the value systems and wisdom of the Indian sub-continent, have been a source of inspiration and counsel for our people. The contemporary economic, geographic and strategic imperatives compel us more than ever before to stand together.

Excellencies,

On behalf of the Government and the people of my country, I express appreciation to the Government and the people of India for their understanding and substantial support for our efforts to establish peace. We look to your continued cooperation and encouragement, and we recognize with gratitude that in the provision of medical aid, in de-mining, humanitarian assistance to the displaced and infrastructure restoration, the Government of India has been in the forefront, complementing and supporting our own efforts.

Excellencies,

The recent national elections enabled the people living in the North and the East of our country to exercise their franchise freely after several decades. We are committed to strengthening this democratic process. Provincial Council elections were held in the East, no sooner the province was cleared of terrorists.  We now intend to hold Provincial Council elections in the North at the earliest.

I am fully aware that the measures for economic progress and for the revival of democratic governance, must be paralleled by measures to heal the hurt in the minds of our people arising out of conflict.  We are determined to introspect and learn from the events of that difficult era.  With this intention, a Commission on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation has now been appointed.  We are confident that this Commission with its wide ranging mandate would guide us towards a process of further strengthening national amity.

Excellencies,

With our focus now on delivering the peace dividend and prosperity to our people, our economic relations with India assume an even more fundamental importance.  Sri Lanka’s locational advantage and human resource potential can couple easily with India’s vast market, business skills and core technological competencies. There must be  greater interaction between our business and professional communities, who are in fact the change agents for economic cooperation and integration.

Just as much as we in Sri Lanka hail the economic rise of India, we also salute her achievements in deeply entrenching democratic governance.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and I, joined by our respective delegations have had fruitful discussions today and reached agreement on many issues. I am confident that these decisions will strengthen our endeavours to fashion a partnership that can become a model of deep trust, friendship and cooperation between two very close neighbours.

Excellency,

While thanking you and the Government of India for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to me and my delegation, I take this opportunity to invite you to visit Sri Lanka. The people of my country will be most honoured to receive you.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me now propose a toast to the good health, success and happiness of Her Excellency Srimathi Pratibha Patil and to the long-lasting friendship between the peoples of India and of Sri Lanka.

To Friendship !

Thank you.

 


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