Jaishankar calls on Lankan Prez, PM, assures them of India's cooperation in crisis

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday to assure them of India’s continued cooperation and understanding, as the island nation continues facing an unprecedented economic crisis.

Sri Lanka is facing an acute economic and energy crisis, triggered due to the shortage of foreign exchange. India recently announced to extend a $1 billion line of credit to Sri Lanka as part of its financial assistance to the country to deal with the economic crisis.

Jaishankar is in Colombo to hold bilateral talks with the country’s top leadership and attend the seven-nation BIMSTEC summit.

Also read: Jaishankar lands in Lanka, discusses crisis with counterpart

In his talks with President Gotabaya, the minister reviewed various dimensions of the close neighbourly relationship between India and Sri Lanka.

“Pleased to call on President @GotabayaR of Sri Lanka. Reviewed various dimensions of our close neighbourly relationship. Assured him of India’s continued cooperation and understanding,” Jaishankar said on Twitter.

Pleased to call on President @GotabayaR of Sri Lanka.

Reviewed various dimensions of our close neighbourly relationship.

Assured him of India’s continued cooperation and understanding. pic.twitter.com/xAvCEuxhYV

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 28, 2022

Gotabaya expressed his gratitude to the Government of India and tweeted, “Met with Indian Foreign Minister @DrSJaishankar today, and I expressed my gratitude to the Government of #India for the invaluable assistance provided recently via the line of credit, on behalf of the people of #lka”

Met with Indian Foreign Minister @DrSJaishankar today, and I expressed my gratitude to the Government of #India for the invaluable assistance provided recently via the line of credit, on behalf of the people of #lka. pic.twitter.com/ehuiWHJdNG

— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) March 28, 2022

During his meeting with Prime Minister Mahinda, Jaishankar virtually inaugurated the Jaffna Cultural Centre constructed by India.

“Thank Prime Minister @PresRajapaksa for his gracious welcome. Our discussions were followed by some notable events: 1. Witnessed the signing of agreement on supporting Buddhist culture and heritage. 2. Virtually toured an ongoing camp in Jaffna on fitting Jaipur Foot,” Jaishankar said in another tweet.

Thank Prime Minister @PresRajapaksa for his gracious welcome.

Our discussions were followed by some notable events:

1. Witnessed the signing of agreement on supporting Buddhist culture and heritage.

2. Virtually toured an ongoing camp in Jaffna on fitting ‘Jaipur Foot’. pic.twitter.com/sxBXtj4SnZ

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 28, 2022

The Jaipur foot, also known as the Jaipur leg, is a rubber-based prosthetic leg for people with below-knee amputations. It was developed by Pandit Ram Chandra Sharma and orthopaedic surgeon P K Sethi in 1968.

Jaishankar also visited India’s Information Technology services major HCL Technologies office in Sri Lanka, along with Cabinet Minister of Youth and Sports Namal Rajapaksa.

“Visited the @hcltech office development centre in Colombo. Great example of shared talent and global workplace. Appreciate @RajapaksaNamal for joining on this occasion,” Jaishankar said in another tweet.

Visited the @hcltech office development centre in Colombo. Great example of shared talent and global workplace.

Appreciate @RajapaksaNamal for joining on this occasion. pic.twitter.com/JY7DC0OtqU

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 28, 2022

HCL Technologies commenced operations in Sri Lanka in 2020, after it joined hands with the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka in February 2020 to launch its local entity HCL Technologies Lanka (Private) Limited and set up its first delivery centre in the region.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and discussed with him the island nation’s economic situation and India’s support during its current foreign exchange crisis.

“Began the visit by meeting Finance Minister @RealBRajapaksa. Discussed the economic situation and India’s supportive response. We will continue to be guided by Neighbourhood First,” Jaishankar said on Twitter.

Began the visit by meeting Finance Minister @RealBRajapaksa.

Discussed the economic situation and India’s supportive response. We will continue to be guided by Neighbourhood First pic.twitter.com/D6K7Wq1JZd

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 28, 2022

Jaishankar’s visit to Colombo is taking place at a time when the public outrage over the Lankan government’s inefficiency in handling the crisis has come out in the open.

This is his first visit to the island nation, since India extended an economic relief package to bail Sri Lanka out of the current economic crisis.

Besides India and Sri Lanka, the BIMSTEC comprises Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.

The summit is being hosted by Sri Lanka in its capacity as the chair of the grouping BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the virtual summit of the BIMSTEC grouping on March 30, which is expected to focus on expanding economic engagement among its member countries.

Amidst the current foreign exchange crisis, people are holding protests and vigils urging immediate solutions to rid them of fuel and gas queues and enduring long hours of power cuts.

(With inputs from Agencies)