68th Independence Day of India celebrations in Sri Lanka

Saturday, 16 August 2014 00:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The High Commission of India and the Indian expatriate community in Sri Lanka celebrated the 68th Independence Day of India yesterday at India House in Colombo. High Commissioner Y.K. Sinha unfurled the National Flag and inspected a Guard of Honour presented by the BSF contingent. He read out excerpts from the Address to the Nation on the eve of the Independence Day by President of India Pranab Mukherjee. The High Commissioner noted that the President of India had highlighted that though an ancient civilisation, India is a modern nation with modern dreams. India is a beacon of democracy, equilibrium and inter-and-intra faith harmony. India’s security and foreign policies must combine the steel of strength with the velvet of diplomacy. India has the will, energy, intellect, values and unity to claim the 21st century. Speaking about the state of India-Sri Lanka relations, High Commissioner said that Sri Lanka has always occupied a special place in Indian hearts. Centuries-old cultural, civilisational and linguistic links had now blossomed to encompass all areas of contemporary relevance. High-level bilateral interaction with the new Indian Government had already commenced with the visits to India by the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa, in May to attend the swearing-in of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers, and by the External Affairs Minister of Sri Lanka Prof. G.L. Peiris, in July for bilateral talks. India was also committed to closer economic cooperation and consolidation of the SAARC region. The India Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISLFTA), which aims to exploit the synergies and complementarities that exist between the two countries and has led to a sharp increase in bilateral trade and investment flows, remains the cornerstone of bilateral economic and commercial ties. We were now looking to tap the vast potential in the services sector, thereby launching a special economic partnership. High Commissioner noted that people-to-people and cultural links constituted one of the cardinal pillars of the India-Sri Lanka relationship, and felt that these ties would be further strengthened through India’s focus on the 5 Ts – Tradition, Talent, Tourism, Trade and Technology, enunciated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. In recent years, India has been attracting a growing number of Sri Lankan students for tertiary education, as it offers a much more affordable alternative to other countries without compromising on quality. The High Commissioner also said that India is privileged to be a partner in Sri Lanka’s development efforts. India’s developmental cooperation projects are entirely based on the priorities set by the Government and the people of Sri Lanka. India’s development cooperation projects amounted to around US$ 1.3 billion overall. The housing project is the flagship project in this regard, with a target to build 50,000 houses by the end of 2015. Around 14,000 houses have been completed in all respects till date, while about 20,000 houses are under various stages of completion. High Commissioner’s address was followed by a brief cultural program organised by the Indian Cultural Centre, which included the singing of patriotic songs and dance performances by students of the Indian Cultural Centre. Subsequently, the High Commissioner of India and other officials of the High Commission paid their respects to the memory of fallen soldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in a solemn ceremony at the IPKF memorial in Colombo. As part of the series of events being organised on the occasion of the 68th Independence Day of India, the Indian CEO Forum, in collaboration with the High Commission of India, is organising an Independence Day Concert by the famous Indian singer, Shaan (Shantanu Mukherjee) on 17 August 2014. Consulates General of India in Jaffna and Hambantota and the Assistant High Commission of India in Kandy also celebrated the 68th Independence Day by organising flag hoisting ceremonies.

India appreciates Lankan President’s goodwill gesture to release Indian fishermen

The High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka Y.K. Sinha called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday at Temple Trees – Pic by Sudath Silva

India has expressed its appreciation over Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s order yesterday to release all Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody on the occasion of India’s Independence Day that was celebrated yesterday. The High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka Y.K. Sinha expressed his appreciation for the President’s gesture when he called on the President this morning at Temple Trees on Thursday. President Rajapaksa, expressing concern about the impact this situation is having on both the lives of fishermen and the environment, expressed the need for a permanent solution. The Indian High Commissioner also briefed the President on the Indian CEO’s Forum that is set to take place this week in line with Indian Independence Day celebrations in Sri Lanka. When the President pointed out that there are quite a number of company CEOs in Sri Lanka that are of Indian origin, Sinha said, “They are very happy here.” “Government policies are very investor-friendly,” High Commissioner Sinha further said. “A lot of cooperation is happening.” The High Commissioner also presented President Rajapaksa with a publication titled “India & Sri Lanka: A Partnership That Transcends Time,” which was published by the Indian High Commission and launched yesterday by Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa. The publication provides a glimpse into the extensive and multi-sectoral Development Cooperation Partnership between India and Sri Lanka, which has expanded significantly since the end of the armed conflict in 2009. Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris was present at the meeting.

India releases 16 Sri Lankan fishermen

India released 16 Sri Lankan fishermen who were under custody in Karnataka State in South India. The Ministry of Fisheries said that early arrangements will be made to bring them back to Sri Lanka. A spokesman for the Ministry of Fisheries said another batch of 23 Sri Lankan fishermen are still under custody in Andhra Pradesh in South India and efforts will be continued to obtain their release. He said 12 Sri Lankan boats are also under the custody of Andhra Pradesh. Earlier President Mahinda Rajapaksa ordered the officials to take immediate steps to release Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody. This gesture was taken in view of Indian Independence Day anniversary which falls on 15 August. Accordingly, 95 Indian fishermen will be released under the President’s instruction. Consequently, there are no more Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan prisons facing charges of trespassing.