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H.E. Mr Lakshman Kadirgamar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, will be on a working visit to India on February 24-26, 2005 at the invitation of External Affairs Minister.
India-Sri Lanka relations have seen significant progress in the recent past. Political relations are close, trade and investments have increased dramatically, infrastructural linkages are expanding, and there is a general, broad-based improvement across all sectors of bilateral cooperation.
The importance attached to our relations is evident from the fact that following the tusnami of December 26, 2004 India made every effort possible within its means to assist Sri Lanka in its hour of need despite suffering grievously itself. A composite relief package of Rs 100 crore was announced for Sri Lanka and was followed by a massive relief effort in which India deployed an air detachment of 10 aircraft for three weeks and sent about 15 naval ship-loads of supplies, fifteen medical teams, a mobile field hospital (140 men) that was airlifted, specialist doctors, a 45-bed hospital ship, 10 teams of naval divers and a 81-member composite Army disaster management team.
The economic dynamism of the relationship is manifest in the success of the Indian Sri-Lankan Free Trade Agreement. Bilateral trade has more than doubled after the FTA was signed and exceeded US $ 1.5 billion dollars in 2003-4. India was the largest investor in Sri Lanka in 2002 and 2003. Discussions on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to further deepen and widen the relationship have made substantial progress. A Committee has been set up under the co-Chairmanship of the Commerce Secretaries to oversee negotiations and Working Groups have been constituted to work out details of with the intention of finalizing the Agreement at the earliest.
During his visit, Foreign Minister Kadirgamar will meet senior Indian leaders including External Affairs Minister. Issues of mutual concern will be discussed and ways and means of further strengthening bilateral relations will be identified.
Apart from a review of bilateral relations, the visit will provide an opportunity to discuss the latest developments in the peace process in Sri Lanka. The Government of India is committed to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and to the restoration of a lasting peace through a peaceful, negotiated settlement that meets the just aspirations of all communities. Peace in Sri Lanka can only contribute to the further deepening and expansion of Indo-Sri Lankan ties to mutual advantage and benefit.
AK/SK/VN
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