Visit to Sri Lanka by Minister Jairam Ramesh Print option in slimbox / lytebox? (info)

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Minister of Rural Development, Drinking Water and Sanitation of India, Jairam Ramesh, visited Sri Lanka from 11 to 13 July 2012, at the invitation of the Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka and Chairman of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS), G.L. Peiris.

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On 12 July, the Minister delivered the keynote address at the Seminar on Poverty Alleviation jointly organised by the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute and the Research and Information System for Developing countries (RIS), New Delhi. The main aim of the Seminar was to make a comparative assessment of strategies adopted by the two countries for poverty alleviation. 
The visit also marked the signing of an Agreement between RIS and LKIIRSS aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two institutes through collaborative research projects, capacity building programmes, joint conferences/seminars, exchange of research faculty, knowledge dissemination through joint publications and exchange of research publications. 
 
During his visit, Minister Jairam Ramesh called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and held meetings with the Minister of External Affairs, G.L. Peiris as well as the Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa. 
 
Delivering a public lecture at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) on the topic ‘Changing Role of India in South Asia’, Minister Jairam Ramesh highlighted India’s  increasing engagement with neighbouring countries through SAARC, the ‘Look East Policy’, as well as increased interaction with ASEAN member states, countries of Central Asia, East Asia and South-West Asia. The Minister emphasised that India has realised the importance of taking unilateral initiatives to create a better environment for intra-regional trade and investment as well as regional cooperation. 
 
On 13 July, the Minister visited the historic Kelaniya Buddhist temple. 
 
High Commission of Sri Lanka, India
16 July 2012