Indian MPs pleased with SL’s economic progress

The Indian Parliamentary delegation visiting Sri Lanka met with Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the ministry office 11 April.

The Indian team were on a five-day tour (8-12 April) to inspect the progress of Indian-funded development projects among other activities and to further strengthen Indo-Sri Lanka ties.

The Parliamentary delegation comprises Saugata Roy, Prakash Javedkar, Anurug Thakur, Sandeep Dixshit, Dhanajay Singh and Madhu Goud Yaskhi representing Bharathiya Janatha Party, Indian People’s Congress, Bahujana Samaj Party and Indian National Congress.

Their visit, organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), is aimed at enhancing the relationship between the two countries.

After meeting with Sri Lankan MPs, senior Ministers, the Speaker and political leaders, the Indian MPs also visited Jaffna to look at the Indian-supported owner-driven housing initiative among other projects. The delegation expressed satisfaction with the economic progress SL has achieved so far.

Jyoti Malhotra, convener of the FICCI’s Forum of Parliamentarians, who accompanied the delegation, said FICCI had been working to constitute a ‘Track Two political dialogue’ between Indian parliamentarians and their Sri Lankan counterparts for many months now, for greater political interaction and understanding. The visit is part of a larger program that seeks to institutionalise political partnerships.

Similar interactions have earlier been held among Indian MPs and those of Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.