New Delhi [India], October 18 (ANI): Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya on Saturday called for closer cooperation with India in trade, maritime security, and sustainable livelihoods, while acknowledging the sensitivities surrounding the issue concerning fishermen of the two countries.
Speaking at a civic reception hosted by India Foundation in New Delhi, Amarasuriya said Sri Lanka firmly believes in a free, open, and inclusive Indian Ocean region where all nations can pursue their legitimate interests in peace and prosperity.
She noted that Indian Ocean security is a shared concern for both nations. “No bilateral relationship is without its challenges, and ours is no exception. Issues such as Indian fishermen entering Sri Lankan waters and engaging in harmful practices like bottom trawling are of deep concern to fishermen in Northern Sri Lanka, who are regaining their livelihoods after years of conflict. This matter requires sensitive handling and sustainable solutions. We are constantly in dialogue to find a reasonable outcome that satisfies both parties,” she said.
“What gives me confidence is that both our governments are committed to addressing these matters through dialogue, empathy, and respect for the livelihoods of both our peoples. The mark of a mature relationship is not the absence of differences but the ability to manage them constructively. I believe our relationship has achieved that maturity,” she added.
Amarasuriya said Sri Lanka aims to develop as a maritime hub for the Indian Ocean region and can serve as a cost-efficient gateway for India’s exports and imports, leveraging its deep-water ports located along the east-west shipping lanes.
“Our ports can continue to be developed as gateways to India’s trade. Being India’s closest maritime neighbor, Sri Lanka can be a natural complement and partner in achieving ‘Viksit Bharat.’ Indian Ocean security concerns both our countries, compelling us to collaborate on issues such as drug trafficking, piracy, regional maritime cooperation, and renewable energy development for mutual benefit. Common challenges require collective responses,” she said.
She further emphasized that the region’s future depends on collaboration, mutual respect, and adherence to international law. “Sri Lanka firmly believes in a free, open, and inclusive Indian Ocean region and beyond, where all nations can pursue their legitimate interests in peace and prosperity,” she reiterated.
Amarasuriya also described India as a crucial partner in Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and growth. “The India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement, signed in 1998, created significant opportunities for both our economies. We are committed to deepening our economic partnership through negotiations on the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement, which we hope to resume soon. It would be mutually beneficial to explore how Sri Lanka can integrate into India’s manufacturing and service sector value chains,” she said.
“As India positions itself as a global manufacturing hub under ‘Viksit Bharat,’ Sri Lanka could serve as a complementary production base, including for industries like textiles, electronics, and food processing,” she added.
Former President Ram Nath Kovind and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also attended the event.
During her three-day official visit to India, Amarasuriya met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation and addressing key regional issues, including the long-standing fishermen dispute. (ANI)
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