NEW DELHI/COLOMBO – Indian Prime minister Narendra Modi told Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa that implementation of the 13th Amendment – which devolves power to a merged North-East – was “essential”, as the two leaders met in a virtual summit on Saturday (26).
Modi told Rajapaksa that Sri Lanka must “work towards realizing the expectations of Tamils for equality, justice, peace and dignity within a united Sri Lanka by achieving reconciliation nurtured by implementation of the Constitutional provisions”.
“He emphasized that implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution is essential for carrying forward the process of peace and reconciliation,” said an official Indian press release.
During the summit, which took place virtually, Rajapaksa had requested a further $1 billion from New Delhi, in the form of a currency swap. Sri Lanka, which is currently in the midst of an economic crisis, already owes about $960 million to India and earlier this year India agreed to a $400 million currency swap facility for Sri Lanka until November 2022.
“Technical discussions on Sri Lanka’s request for debt deferment are going on,” added the Indian statement.
The additional request was one of several aspects discussed during the talks, with Modi, who also announced a US$15 million grant “for the promotion of Buddhist ties between the two countries”.
Modi also added that the “current moment provided a unique opportunity for both countries to work more closely with each other in dealing with the economic impact of COVID-19 and deepening engagement on regional and international issues”.
India’s foreign ministry said Modi expressed his confidence that the government in Sri Lanka will take early and decisive steps for the early implementation of agreed deals on ports and energy request in accordance with existing understandings and in mutual interest of both sides.
The two leaders agreed to work “towards early realization of infrastructure and connectivity projects including in the sectors of Ports and Energy through close consultations as per the Bilateral Agreements and MoUs,” a joint media statement said.
Sri Lanka has previously said India would be part of a new container port terminal in Colombo and would also be involved in liquefied natural gas plant, after a coal power joint venture was cancelled by ex-President Maithripala Sirisena.
The two countries would also work to use a 100 million dollar credit line from India for solar power. Rajapaksa was joined by several ministers for the virtual summit, including EPDP leader and fisheries minister Douglas Devananda.
-TG/EN