India, Sri Lanka set up Parliamentary Friendship Association
New Delhi: The India-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Association has been set up this week under the patronage of the Speaker of Sri Lankan Parliament, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.
Gopal Baglay, India’s High Commissioner to Colombo, was the Guest of Honour at the event held on Thursday in Parliament Complex in the Sri Lankan capital.
Over 60 members of the Parliament of Sri Lanka attended the event.
In his speech, Baglay said the multifaceted, bilateral relationship, will focus on six areas: fostering democratic values, cooperation in combating common challenges, enhancing people-to-people contact, encouraging greater economic engagement, strengthening cultural ties, and sharing the fruits of development partnership.
He also read out a congratulatory message from Indian Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to his Sri Lankan counterpart.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris highlighted the close civilizational ties between India and Sri Lanka. India’s greatest gift to Sri Lanka was Buddhism, he said while stressing the importance of people-to-people connection between the two countries.
(Venkatesh Iyer)
