President of Sri Lanka: Will Not Allow Land For Anti-India Activities
President of Sri Lanka said – will not allow the use of its land for anti-India activities.
President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday said his country will not allow its land to be used for any activity that threatens India’s security.
He gave this assurance in a meeting with Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
During this, Rajapaksa also explained in detail the relations between China and Colombo and asked them not to have any doubts about it.
The Foreign Secretary is in Sri Lanka on a four-day visit to discuss bilateral relations. He called on the President on the last day of his visit.
The meeting comes a day after the president returned from the US attending the United Nations General Assembly.
Rajapaksa told the foreign secretary that his government has invited Indian investors to invest in the country.
At the same time, the government wants to resolve the dispute related to Trincomalee oil tankers in a way that benefits both countries.
Let us tell you that an oil well in the port of Trincomalee, which has been a major link in the economic partnership between the two countries for decades.
President Rajapaksa said he hoped India would support the 1971 resolution to declare the Indian Ocean a peace zone.
In fact, China is investing billions of dollars in various infrastructure projects including ports in Sri Lanka.
It is also providing financial assistance to the Sri Lankan economy which has come under pressure due to the Corona epidemic. Sri Lanka is also important for Dragon’s One Belt One Road.
Chinese companies had built Hambantota, a strategic port there, but when Sri Lanka was unable to repay its debt, it was handed over to Beijing on a 99-year lease in 2017.
This is also a cause of concern for India. India is also concerned about Chinese companies’ plans to set up a new city off the coast of Colombo.
Shringla raised the issue of the 13th amendment.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday raised the issue of the 13th Amendment with Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa.
He reiterated India’s stand for full implementation of its provisions, including devolution of powers and holding of provincial council elections at the earliest.
The Thirteenth Amendment provides for the transfer of power to the Tamil community.
India has been pressing Sri Lanka to implement the 13th Amendment, which was introduced after the 1987 India-Sri Lanka accord.
