The Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi and the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Mr. Maithripala Sirisena giving media statement, during the Joint Press Interaction, in New Delhi on February 16, 2015.
New Delhi (PIB-GR-TYP-BIN): Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi said that India is Sri Lanka`s closest neighbour and friend. The goodwill and support of the people of India will always be with you. Some excerpts from text of statement to Media by the Prime Minister during the visit of President of Sri Lanka, Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, to India.
‘The timeless links of history, religion and culture provide a solid foundation of our partnership.
We also share a broad range of interests – economic development for our countries; peace and prosperity in South Asia; maritime security in the region.
Indeed, I believe that our destinies are inter-linked. Our security and prosperity are indivisible.
President Sirisena and I had excellent discussions today on our bilateral relations and international issues.
President and I are committed to unlock the vast potential of our economic cooperation.
We are pleased to be Sri Lanka`s largest trading partner. I know that India enjoys a huge trade surplus. I expressed my support for a more balanced growth in trade in both directions.
We discussed expansion of cooperation in energy sector, both conventional and renewable.
The bilateral agreement on civil nuclear cooperation is yet another demonstration of our mutual trust. This is the first such agreement Sri Lanka has signed. It opens new avenues for cooperation, including in areas like agriculture and healthcare.
President and I also agreed to expand our defence and security cooperation. We welcomed the progress in our maritime security cooperation, including in the trilateral format with Maldives.
I thanked the President for his invitation to me to visit Sri Lanka. I am eagerly looking forward to visiting his beautiful country in March.
I would like to once again welcome President Sirisena to India. We are at a moment of an unprecedented opportunity to take our bilateral relations to a new level. His visit today has set us firmly in that direction’.
The President, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, the Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi with the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Mr. Maithripala Sirisena and Mrs. Jayanthi Sirisena, at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on February 16, 2015.
(Courtesy: PIB)