India ensures its cooperation in defence, security of Sri Lanka : Indian Envoy

Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu said on Tuesday that the recently concluded Presidential Elections in Sri Lanka was “a festival of democracy”.

Delivering the Lalith Athulathmudali Commemoration Freedom Speech on “Ïndia- Sri Lanka relations for a shared and secured future” at the BMICH, he highlighted the strong cooperation between India and Sri Lanka in the field of defence and security, and development partnership. The Oration was organised by the Lalith Athulathmudali Foundation, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, and the Institute for Democracy and Leadership. He emphasised that India could offer more in these fields depending on Sri Lanka’s own requirements. High Commissioner spoke about the recent visit of External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S. Jaishanker to

Sri Lanka, who was the first foreign dignitary to call on the new President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa. High Commissioner also spoke about the forthcoming visit of President of Sri Lanka to India later this week, making India the destination for his

High Commissioner recalled that PM Modi was the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lanka after the Easter Sunday attacks

first overseas visit.high Commissioner recalled that PM Modi was the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lanka after the Easter Sunday attacks. High Commissioner noted that all these high-level exchanges underlined the special nature of India-sri Lanka ties. High Commissioner pointed out that national security goes beyond physical securing of one’s own borders; if the region and the world are in turmoil, we cannot remain safe. He added that in this era of internet and cyberspace, ideas and ideologies travel at the click of a mouse, beyond borders, on a real time basis. He underscored the need to keep the forces which perpetrate the Jehadi ideology at bay.