SL would benefit immensely through mutual connectivity with India : Modi

Sri Lanka could benefit immensely though mutual connectivity with India, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said over the weekend.  

Mr. Modi made this remark at the commencement of ferry service between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai over the weekend.    Mr. Modi recalled the vision document jointly adopted during the visit of the President of Sri Lanka to India in July 2023 for economic partnership between India and Sri Lanka, with the central theme of connectivity. He highlighted that connectivity brings closer the two countries and its people. 

Recalling the recent launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor during the G20 summit in India in September 2023, Prime Minister mentioned that the people of Sri Lanka will benefit from this connectivity corridor, as multimodal connectivity between India and Sri Lanka is strengthened. 

Recalling the recent launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor during the G20 summit in India in September 2023, Prime Minister mentioned that the people of Sri Lanka will benefit from this connectivity corridor, as multimodal connectivity between India and Sri Lanka is strengthened. 

He further said that both Governments are working on fin-tech connectivity by linking UPI and Lanka Pay, and for connecting the energy grids to enhance energy security. He added that the Governments will continue to work closely to start ferry services on the traditional Rameswaram-Talaimannar sector too.  

In his remarks, highlighting the important role of ferry services in enhancing people-to-people ties between the two countries, President Ranil Wickremesinghe thanked the Government of India and the Shipping Corporation of India for taking steps to commence the service.  

The ferry service between Nagapattinam in India and Kankesanthurai (KKS) near Jaffna in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka commenced on October 14, 2023. The ferry was flagged-off from Nagapattinam by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India Shri Sarbananda Sonowal at the Port and the External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar through video link. The ceremony was addressed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe virtually. The Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation of the Government of Sri Lanka, Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva also joined the event virtually.