Mangala meets Modi By Dharisha Bastians Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed the first steps for reconciliation taken by the new administration in Sri Lanka and described President Maithripala Sirisena’s victory in last week’s election as a vote for “unity and change.” Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera became the first high official of the new administration to hold key talks with the Indian Prime Minister after pledging “course correction” in Sri Lanka’s foreign policy upon his arrival in India over the weekend. Minister Samaraweera held talks with Premier Modi at his official residence in New Delhi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a media release. The new Sri Lankan Foreign Minister is believed to have carried an invitation to the Indian Prime Minister to visit Sri Lanka. President Sirisena is expected to undertake a state visit to New Delhi in February, while Prime Minister Modi could also visit Colombo as early as March, sources said. The planned visit will be the first by an Indian Prime Minister since 1987. A statement released by his office said Prime Minister Modi had expressed admiration for the new Sri Lankan Government’s vision for a “truly Sri Lankan Government”, inclusive of all voices, a Press Trust of India report said. During his meeting with the new Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, the Indian Premier has expressed hope that President Sirisena’s victory would advance “peace, reconciliation and development” in the island. He pledged India’s continued support to the close neighbour and “friend” during the meeting with Minister Samaraweera, the PTI report added. Prime Minister Modi had appreciated the initial steps taken by the new Government in Sri Lanka for political reconciliation, inclusiveness and participation, a statement from his office said. “Even a few steps can clearly indicate one’s direction,” Modi had observed during the meeting. During his first week in office, President Sirisena removed former Military commander G.A. Chandrasiri as Northern Province Governor, appointed a civilian and former diplomat, H.M.G.S. Palihakkara to replace him. The new Government in Colombo has also lifted a travel ban on foreigners to the North, without written permission from the Ministry of Defence. Both steps are seen as attempts to reach out to the Tamil community. The Indian Prime Minister lauded the people of Sri Lanka for the successful conclusion of elections. Prime Minister Modi had also thanked President Sirisena for accepting his invitation to visit India and hoped to receive him at an early date, according to the statement. The Prime Minister had also accepted the invitation to visit Sri Lanka at a convenient date. “As new foreign minister, my first priority is a course correction: to put Sri Lanka’s foreign policy back on track. We want to win back many of the friends we had alienated in the last few years,” Minister Samaraweera said in an interview with an Indian magazine upon his arrival in New Delhi for high level talks. Minister Samaraweera acknowledged in the interview that under the previous Rajapaksa administration, Sri Lanka had been “tilting” too much towards one power bloc compared to another. “As a non-aligned country, we cannot do that. After all and even apart from our historical ties and our old friendship with India, she is also a very powerful country. It is important that India and Sri Lanka understand each other’s concerns. Our policies towards both India and China must be driven by our needs, but also by those of each of those two countries,” the Minister said. The Indian Government has welcomed the new administration in Colombo, with Prime Minister Modi becoming the first world leader to congratulate President Sirisena on his victory in the early hours of 9 January. New Delhi has been increasingly concerned about growing Chinese influence in the island, especially after two Chinese submarines were allowed to dock at the Colombo Port last year.
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 07:57:57 +0000
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