Venkatesh Iyer
NW DELHI, Sep 26: In a significant push to strengthen Buddhist cultural link between India and Sri Lanka, India has agreed to supply USD 15 million grant to Colombo. The announcement came soon after both the prime ministers of the two countries, Narendra Modi and Mahinda Rajapakse held an hour-long virtual meeting on Saturday.
Modi congratulated Rajapakse for the recent electoral success and expressed the confidence that under his “leadership a new chapter will begin in Indo-Sri Lanka ties. Under the neighbourhood first policy and SAGAR Doctrine, we will accord priority to Sri Lanka.”
The Sri Lankan PM reciprocally stated Indian government had supported and helped his country and recalled the close ties between the two countries. He thanked India for extending financial support to deal during the on-going pandemic and the economic impact it had on Sri Lanka. He also appreciated India’s help during the MT Diamond ship fire crisis during which The Indian Navy played a key role.
Post the discussion Mahinda tweeted “Prime Minister@narendramodi and I held a very successful Virtual Summit today to exchange views on the #SriLanka – #India bilateral cooperation. We both agreed to continue the two-way dialogue to further advance the centuries-old, robust relationship between our two countries”.
Amit Narang the Joint secretary Indian Ocean region in the ministry of external affairs said, “Testifying to the long-standing civilizational links and cultural heritage, Prime Minister Modi announced grant assistance of US$15 million for the promotion of Buddhist ties between the two countries. The grant will assist in deepening people-to-people linkages between the two countries in the sphere of Buddhism.”
The grant will be, used for building and improving Buddhist cultural sites within the Indian Ocean country, archaeological collaboration, the reciprocal study of Lord Buddha’s relics, strengthening of Buddhist scholarship, and supporting the clergy.
India also will facilitate the visit of a delegation of Buddhist pilgrims from Sri Lanka in the inaugural flight to Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, the place where Lord Buddha attained “Parinirvana.” Recently, in a bid to promote Buddist tourism Kushinagar Airport was designated as an international airport.