Ranil praises AKD for advancing ETCA with India

Wednesday, 18 December 2024 00:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has commended President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for advancing the Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) and for prioritising the development of Trincomalee as a regional energy and industrial hub.

Wickremesinghe, speaking in support of the recent developments, noted that the Joint Statement issued by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Dissanayake on 16 December in New Delhi marks a significant step in further deepening Indo-Lanka cooperation. He described this as a “welcome development” that strengthens ties between the two nations.

The former president’s endorsement comes after his own visit to India in November 2024, where he delivered a guest lecture for higher education students in Indore. During that visit, when asked by PTI about areas of mutual cooperation that President Dissanayake should focus on during his visit to New Delhi, Wickremesinghe pointed to the vision document he had signed with Prime Minister Modi in July 2023. He expressed his belief that President Dissanayake should follow through on the areas outlined in that document to fully realise the potential of bilateral cooperation.

The vision document signed by Wickremesinghe and Modi set out key areas of collaboration, with a particular emphasis on economic partnerships. Wickremesinghe reiterated his support for continuing these efforts, underscoring the importance of implementing the agreed-upon initiatives.