Appreciating Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena for choosing India for his maiden foreign visit, President Pranab Mukherjee has said it is time to take the economic engagement between both countries to the next level.
Welcoming the Sri Lankan President in Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday, Mr Mukherjee said in Mr Sirisena's election victory, there is an opportunity to chart a new direction in the bilateral engagement between India and Sri Lanka.
The President said the issue of fishermen is an emotive one that concerns the livelihood of fishermen from both the countries and expressed confidence that both the countries can handle the issue with due care and sensitivity.
Mr Mukherjee said the support Mr Sirisena received from a wide cross section of the people reflects the eagerness of the people of Sri Lanka to strengthen its democratic leadership.
The President said India as a close neighbour has watched developments in Sri Lanka with deep interest as the end of the armed conflict in 2009 was a historic opportunity to find a meaningful and lasting solution to the issues concerning the Sri Lankan Tamil minority.
The President said that in contemporary times, relations between the two countries have become multi-faceted, encompassing trade and investment, science, education, security and defence, and above all, people-to-people exchanges.
"I am delighted that the flagship Indian Housing Project in Sri Lanka continues to make excellent progress. The recommencement of the iconic 'Yal Devi' train service, after three decades, between Jaffna and Colombo through the Indian-assisted Northern Railway Rehabilitation project is a matter of particular satisfaction," he said.
Responding to Mr Mukherjee, the Sri Lankan President said that his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi were fruitful and has laid the foundation for an expansion in bilateral relations, a statement from Press Secretary to Mr Mukherjee, Venu Rajamony said.
"The two countries have enjoyed good relations for thousands of years and share many things in common, especially cultural links and common values inspired by Buddhism and Hinduism. Nobody can challenge this relationship and the future must be built on the basis of the historical relations," the statement said.
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