Indo-Lanka ties further strengthened under the current government: President

President Maithripala Sirisena stressed that close ties between Sri Lanka and India have been further strengthened with correct understanding under the current government although some extreme elements are trying to present wrong interpretations about the bilateral relationship.

Speaking at the opening of the Alfred Duraiappah Stadium in Jaffna which was renovated at a cost of Rs. 145 million with India’s financial assistance the President said Saturday that renovating the stadium and vesting it with the children in the North is another opportunity to strengthen the relationship between Sri Lanka and India.

The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi joined President Sirisena in Jaffna Saturday through digital video conferencing to declare open the Duraiappah Stadium renovated with Indian funding.

Speaking further, the President said Sri Lanka receives India’s uninterrupted support for development in the island and the relations between the two countries are important regionally as well as internationally. He added that the diplomatic ties between the two neighboring countries is highly important for regional and international affairs.

The President said that a stadium is a center where reconciliation is enhanced setting aside ethnic, religious, caste and all other differences and the Duraiappah Stadium will be a mecca to build reconciliation among the children of the North and South.

President Sirisena noted that the gun shot on the democratic leader Alfred Duraiappah was an attack on democracy itself and rebuilding of his namesake stadium with the assistance of the Indian government, raises the hope of a new journey for reconciliation erasing the past.

Speaking via satellite link, the Indian Prime Minister said that the Indian government always stands by Sri Lanka and noted that India’s only wish is reconciliation among the different communities in the island nation.

Opening the stadium, a special program organised by the Ministry of Sports to mark the International Yoga Day was held with the participation of 5,000 school students at the stadium and 11,000 Indian students in New Delhi through satellite technology.

Governor of Northern Province, Reginald Cooray, Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran, Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara, State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran, High Commissioner of India Y.K. Sinha, MPs and government officials too participated in the event.