Govt. thanks New Delhi for assistance in crushing LTTE
January 29, 2013, 7:52 amby Zacki Jabbar
Amidst some western countries curtailing training opportunities for Sri Lankan security forces personnel, India says that it has offered Colombo maximum exposure.
Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha responding to a query by The Island said that around 1,400 Lankan armed forces personnel were trained annually by his country which was bigger than what any one provided.
When asked if India would similarly consider increasing the supply of arms and ammunition to its closest neighbour across the Palk Strait, he smiled and replied "We provide a small quantity of equipment. But what is significant is that security exchanges are developing steadily in keeping with our inter-linked interests."
Addressing a reception to mark India’s 64th Republic Day in Colombo on Saturday, Kantha described his country’s relationship with Sri Lanka as "Special" adding "As the Indian nation moves forward, we want our neighbours to be part of a collective growth story. We are ready to extend our fullest support to Sri Lanka in fulfilling its aspirations of peace, harmony, national reconciliation and development in the post war era."
Senior Minister of Good Governance and Infrastructure Ratnasiri Wickremenayake said that his government was extremely grateful for the unconditional support that India provided in helping to defeat the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
"We look back with gratitude for the assistance provided by New Delhi at a crucial stage of our history," he said adding that Sri Lanka wished to strengthen the long standing bonds of friendship and cooperation for the mutual benefit of its people and regional peace.
The High Commissioner noted that with bilateral trade turnover crossing the US$ 5 billion mark, India was Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner globally, while Colombo occupied top place in South Asia when it came to trade exchanges with India.
"We have agreed to double bilateral trade to US$ 10 billion by 2015 and move towards an enhanced framework for a special economic partnership," he said while noting that India also led in terms of tourist arrivals and foreign direct investment into Sri Lanka. With over 250,000 Sri Lankans visiting India last year the partnership could be described as mutually beneficial, the High Commissioner observed.
