India seeks to deepen economic ties with Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, days after Sri Lanka’s new government assumed charge.
In a letter on Monday congratulating his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mr. Modi said: “We warmly recall the efforts made by you during your [earlier] tenures as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to strengthen relations between our two countries.”
“I look forward to working with Your Excellency to bring our two countries even closer, particularly through the deepening of our economic engagement,” he said. In 2014, India repeatedly voiced concern to Sri Lanka, over its increasing proximity to China, and the growing Chinese military presence on the island. New Delhi was rather quick to reach out to the new dispensation, post the January 8 elections. Prime Minister Modi was one of the first leaders to congratulate President Maithripala Sirisena as clear signs of his victory began emerging.
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Perceived to be a relatively pro-West politician, compared to former President Mr. Rajapaksa, Mr. Wickremesinghe’s pre-election remarks on Chinese projects in Sri Lanka made headlines. Mr. Wickremesinghe pledged to scrap the $1.34-billion Chinese-funded Colombo Port City Project, citing threats to the environment.