India to help get UNESCO Heritage tag for Rajagala

• Investment by India and Japan a win-win-win opportunity

Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay said India was ready to support Sri Lanka to get the Rajagala archaeological reserve declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mirror, he said he once visited the site with archaeological proof of Arahat Mahinda’s visit to Sri Lanka in the ancient past. Asked about India’s repeated emphasis on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, he said India believes that as a close neighbour and maritime partner, an indivisible, strong, secure, democratic and pluralistic Sri Lanka is in India’s interest besides being in Sri Lanka’s own.

“The underlying emphasis of India is on strengthening Sri Lanka,” he said.

Responding to a query about the development of the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port , he said Sri Lanka,

Japan and India were in touch through diplomatic channels regarding the development of it.

He said the trilateral Memorandum of Cooperation was concluded in 2019 among India, Japan and Sri Lanka regarding the development operation of the ECT.

“Experts, including in Sri Lanka, have pointed out that having India as a partner in the project would benefit the Colombo Port and Sri Lanka, since more than 60% of Colombo Port’s trans-shipment business is with India. India’s participation in ECT will also ensure continuity to the strong shipping ties between India and Sri Lanka when deep ports come up on Indian coasts, which are not far away,” he said. (KELUM BANDARA)