Indian Foreign Secretary advocates ferry service between India, SL

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla mentioned yesterday the need for the two countries to work on connectivity initiatives like the Jaffna to Chennai flight, ferry services between Karaikal and Kankesanthurai and Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar and the Buddhist corridor with the new international airport at Kushinagar, India.

Delivering his remarks at the Inauguration of Indian Development Cooperation Projects at Temple Trees, Colombo, he said, in the past one year, India had buttressed its credentials of being a net security provider and first responder in HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) situations in the wider Indian Ocean region.

India was happy to respond to Sri Lanka’s requests in recent cases of fire and marine pollution in its waters. The Indian Navy also deployed its assets for rapid delivery of medical grade oxygen to Sri Lanka in August to deal with its COVID situation.

“During the Covid pandemic period, India kept its air space open for travel for specific and urgent medical needs of Sri Lanka. With the easing of the situation in Sri Lanka, it may be opportune for us to work on connectivity initiatives like the Jaffna to Chennai flight, ferry services between Karaikal and Kankesanthurai and Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar and the Buddhist corridor with the new international airport at Kushinagar,” he said.

He elaborated on the projects implemented with financial assistance from India.

He asserted that the two sides will be able to complete some of the remaining projects like the Dambulla Cold Storage plant, trilingual school at Polonnaruwa and the School of Kandyan Dancing at Pallekele whose progress had been impeded by the restrictions imposed by COVID-19 and the attendant administrative challenges.

“India and Sri Lanka have both seen major disruptions to their economies by the devastating Covid pandemic. As we seek rapid socio-economic recovery for our respective countries, it is important to work together to strengthen our economic partnership and deepen our time-tested bilateral ties founded on the principles of mutual benefit, mutual understanding and a common purpose defined by good neighbourly relations,” he said.