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High Commissioner's message on Republic Day 2006

On the occasion of the 57th Republic Day of India, I extend my warm greetings to all my compatriots as well as to the Government and people of Sri Lanka. India and Sri Lanka attained independence from colonial rule during the same period, and our countries spontaneously chose to follow the democratic path of development in line with our civilizational ethos.

Today many decades later, I think that our countries have reason to be proud of the exemplary way in which we have preserved our democratic systems of governance and our commitment to a pluralist society and to fostering macro-economic practices which provide sustenance to the ordinary citizen and at the same time provide the space and opportunities for world-class competitive companies.I hope that we will continue to march together to avail of the huge opportunities and confront the equally great challenges that lie ahead in the globalised world of tomorrow.

Indeed, the India-Sri Lanka relationship can be a model for the countries in our sub-continent. Sri Lanka itself can lay claim to being well-equipped by nature and geography to play a leading role in the region. Mahatma Gandhi saw the island as a 'pendant in a long chain' that makes the sub-continent what it is: plural, complex and destined for great achievements.

At the start of the year 2006, we are at a historical juncture in our bilateral ties which are today more cordial and deep than ever before. H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has just concluded a successful state visit to India. This was the first state visit by a Sri Lankan President to India in more than 7 years. This reflects the importance attached by the Government of India to the bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka, its Government and its people. The President was accompanied by an impressive delegation consisting of cabinet ministers, business leaders and officials. The Indian and Sri Lankan leadership held wide-ranging and substantive discussions on bilateral and regional issues. It was noted with satisfaction that India-Sri Lanka bilateral relations have continued to be in a state of excellence characterized by political consensus in both countries, understanding, friendship, cooperation and mutual respect and benefit.

The discussions on international issues during the visit reflected the long-standing consonance of views between the two friendly nations. Both sides remain resolutely committed to opposing terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, while reiterating that terrorism can never be justified, either on political, or on religious, or on ideological grounds. The two sides agreed that the current global challenges require the reinvigoration of multilateralism, including through the strengthening of the UN system. In this context, Sri Lanka reaffirmed her support for the candidature of India as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. We deeply appreciate the policy decision taken by the Sri Lankan Government in this regard.

India and Sri Lanka emphasized their commitment to work for the full realisation of the objectives identified by the 13th SAARC Summit in Dhaka last November. They were of the view that the South Asian Free Trade Agreement once operationalised should pave the way for the SAARC nations to move towards even closer economic cooperation, with the eventual goal being that of an economic union encompassing the entire region.

The bilateral economic relationship continues to be dynamic and has the potential to expand exponentially once the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) comes into force. The Governments of India and Sri Lanka are building on the success of the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement by negotiating the CEPA. The CEPA will further unleash the inherent synergies between India and Sri Lanka.

India has made an initial allocation of a Credit Line of US$ 100 million for the integrated development of the Colombo - Matara rail network. It was agreed at the request of the Sri Lanka side, that India would take this process forward by the extension of concessionary terms to be mutually agreed upon, for the allocated credit of US$ 100 million, and for any additional credit to be made available for the said project. A multi-disciplinary delegation from India has already visited Sri Lanka. A delegation of officials from Sri Lanka will now visit India to discuss and agree on the technical and engineering aspects of the project, and the terms and conditions of the Credit Line.

India has expressed interest in developing Trincomalee and its surrounding region. During the Presidential visit, we have agreed to prepare a Master Plan for realizing, including through the building up of the necessary infrastructural support, the full economic potential held out by Trincomalee and its environs. It was agreed in this context that a coal based power project of capacity 2x250 MW will be set up in the Trincomalee region of Sri Lanka, as a joint venture between the National Thermal Power Company Ltd, a Government of India enterprise and the Ceylon Electricity Board, a Government of Sri Lanka entity. It was agreed that the Government of Sri Lanka will facilitate and extend necessary help in setting up this project.

During the visit, the Indian side, in recognition of the high priority accorded by the President of Sri Lanka to reconstruction and development in the North and East, offered to support these efforts through technical and financial assistance. The Sri Lanka side welcomed this offer of assistance and agreed to facilitate the related initiatives. The Indian side also announced assistance in constructing a library and a stadium in Jaffna.

India and Sri Lanka will also collaborate to set up an Information & Communication Technology Park in Sri Lanka. This is expressive of the strong desire in both our countries to harness the potential of the knowledge revolution that is taking place globally. We have the talented and trained human resources to take this process further.

We are one year past the tsunami. I venture to say that both India and Sri Lanka have put the tragedy behind them and have forged ahead in rebuilding the lives and livelihood of their affected communities. India was in the forefront of providing immediate relief post-tsunami and is prepared to strengthen the initiatives of Government of Sri Lanka in disaster risk management and disaster risk reduction. A team of senior officials from Tamil Nadu had made a successful visit to Sri Lanka after the tsunami and exchanged suggestions and ideas with Sri Lankan officials from some of the tsunami affected districts. A delegation of Sri Lankan parliamentarians has also visited India to study our disaster management set up. Sri Lankan officials involved in rehabilitation from tsunami affected districts will be visiting some of the tsunami affected areas in India in order to gain first hand knowledge in rehabilitation and reconstruction.

An important new step forward that the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka is taking in the educational sector is the institution of the Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship Scheme for 100 deserving Sri Lankan students every year. These scholarships would be granted to 'O' Level school students all over the country and would consist of a financial grant to be paid on a monthly basis to each student while completing his/her studies in Sri Lanka. I trust that the first batch of scholarships would be granted by the summer of 2006.

Apart from this, every year the Government of India grants several scholarships to Sri Lankan students to high quality Indian educational institutions. Presently, High Commission of India annually awards 47 fully paid scholarships of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations to young and bright Sri Lankan nationals for pursuing various under graduate courses in Indian Universities. Every year talented young Sri Lankan students of music and dance are granted around 10 scholarships to follow under graduate courses in music, dance and painting. We have also continued to award 5 scholarships/fellowships under the Commonwealth programme and 3 scholarships under the Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) for pursuit of post graduate / Research studies at reputed universities in India. Besides, Sri Lankan nationals have also been annually awarded two scholarships for pursuit of Undergraduate/Post graduate courses and one fellowship for research studies in India, under the SAARC scholarship/fellowship programme.

In addition to these under graduate and post-graduate courses, Government of India provides around 150 scholarships annually for shorter-term technical and professional courses. We grant 50 annual scholarships under the Colombo Plan, another 50 scholarships under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and yet another 50 scholarships under the Indian Technical & Educational Cooperation (ITEC) programme. These courses range from month-long to year-long courses which are of practical relevance to Sri Lankans in nation-building.

The proposed setting up of a Chair in Contemporary Indian Studies at the University of Peradeniya with assistance from the Government of India is also a significant development which will assist in bringing the academic communities of the two countries closer together and help the exchange of views and insights on issues of relevance to the social, economic and political situation in both India and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has welcomed the donation of medical equipment as tsunami relief to the affected hospitals of Point Pedro and of Hambantota. The Government of India is preparing a Detailed Project Report on the rehabilitation of the tsunami-damaged Base Hospital in Trincomalee. Construction of the 150-bed Hospital at Dickoya in the Central Province is expected to commence shortly. The Government of India will also provide equipment to set up a fully-equipped Obstetrics and Gynaecology unit in the existing hospital at Dickoya.

We have had an active period in cultural exchanges. 13 cultural promotion officers from different parts of Sri Lanka have made a 10-day visit to India in December 2005 and have studied the functioning of the various zonal cultural centres in India. A 14-member dramatic group has performed a Sinhala play, Sihina Horu Aran at the prestigious drama festival, Bharat Rang Mahotsav organized in January 2006 by the National School of Drama, India. The Methodist College of Sri Lanka has also performed an English play at the same festival. Ms. Ranjana Gauhar, a renowned Odissi exponent, will be giving a series of performances in Sri Lanka on the occasion of our Republic Day under the aegis of the Governments of India and Sri Lanka. We are also jointly putting up a handicrafts exhibition to mark this happy occasion.The Indian Cultural Centre in Colombo has continued to provide opportunities to young Sri Lankans to train in classical music and dance and to study Hindi. The ICC and the Bhartiya Kala Kendra in Kandy provide a platform to Sri Lankan artistes to display their talent and virtuosity in public performances.

It is only fitting that India and Sri Lanka, both vibrant and flourishing democracies, are setting up parliamentary friendship associations. The Sri Lanka-India Parliamentary Friendship Association was set up in the Sri Lankan Parliament on December 22, 2005, and the decision to form an India-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Indian Parliament has been taken. I hope that we will be able to exchange visits of parliamentary delegations in the year ahead.

The people-to-people contacts between India and Sri Lanka continue to grow apace. Nearly 500 visae were issued per day by the High Commission of India last year. Almost 110 flights per week are scheduled between our two countries. Colombo is now connected to several metropolitan centres of India and Indians have formed the largest group of tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka for the second year in a row. I foresee that these contacts will become more frequent and deep in the time ahead, spurred on by our growing economic ties and by the strengthening ties of popular culture.

India is firm in its support for the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka. We are for a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the ethnic issue. Recent acts of violence have rendered the security situation fragile. We appreciate the Sri Lankan President's resolve to build a national consensus for a solution based on achieving maximum devolution which preserves the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. We stand ready to share with Sri Lanka our own experience of unity in diversity, plural democracy and devolution. It is in this context that a presentation was made to the Sri Lankan delegation during the recent visit of the President on the Indian experience of local government in India. We hope that a political settlement of the ethnic issue based on devolution, openness, transparency and inclusivity would emerge through negotiations between the parties concerned so as to ensure a peaceful and bright future for all Sri Lankans in an undivided nd democratic Sri Lanka.

As we enter the year when we shall be celebrating the 2550th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, let us pause to reflect on the myriad bonds that link our ancient lands. And then let us pledge to rejuvenate them and to make them ever more meaningful for our young nations. I once again extend my best wishes for the year ahead to my fellow citizens and to the people and Government of Sri Lanka.