India-SL discuss need for stronger engagement in maritime security

• PM invited to Bangladesh on official State visit
• Bangladesh calls for more Lankan investments
• SL-Vietnam to increase bilateral trade to $ 1 b by 2020

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday discussed freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Indian Ocean and the need to expedite talks to reach an agreement on the issues. 

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe met with the Indian Foreign Minister on the side-lines of the Indian Ocean Conference, where it was agreed upon that the Summit was the most apt setting to deliberate and reach a deal on freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Indian Ocean. 

Furthermore, the subject of Indian assistance to develop housing, ports and airline services in Sri Lanka was also addressed during the Premier’s meeting with Indian Minister Swaraj.

In addition to the Indian Foreign Minister, the Premier met a slew of dignitaries on the side-lines of the Indian Ocean Summit, including Bangladeshi Minister of Planning H. M. Mustafa Kamal.

The Bangladeshi Minister conveyed an official invitation by Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Wickremesinghe for a State visit.

The Premier met with Minister Kamal at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Hanoi where the latter called for Lankan investments in Bangladesh as well as corporation and expertise in the fisheries, medicine, leather and tea sectors.  

Kamal also appreciated services rendered by Dulip Mendis as the coach of the Bangladeshi national cricket team and the support extended by Sri Lanka to Kamal during his tenure as the President of the International Cricket Council.

Additionally, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe also met with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

During this meeting, ideas were exchanged to formulate an action plan to increase bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Vietnam to $ 1 billion by the year 2020.