India assures Sri Lanka on world class road infrastructure in Jaffna

India has agreed to cooperate with Sri Lanka in developing world class road infrastructure in Jaffna region of Sri Lanka.

The Indo-Sri Lanka Cooperation in road construction came up for discussion when India’s Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari called on visiting Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

During the discussions, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister invited the Government of India to take up development of three stretches of major road stretches namely Jaffna to Mannar, Mannar to Vavuniya and Dambulla to Tricomalee.

The Minister informed the Sri Lankan Prime Minister that India’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, during the last three years, has showcased tremendous amount of acceleration of road construction in India and is capable of taking up the roads and completing before time.

The Sri Lankan Prime Minister suggested that these stretches are important for Sri Lanka to develop the region of Jaffna.

Gadkari assured the Sri Lanka Prime Minister that Government of India and his Ministry shall fully cooperate with Sri Lankan Government’s efforts in developing world class infrastructure in Sri Lanka.

The Minister also suggested that taking up all these stretches for development may only be possible with the active support of Sri Lankan agencies for land acquisition and local clearances.

Without acquisition and other clearances in place, it will be difficult to complete the project in time.

Indian delegation proposed that a suitable financial model for developing these roads may be put in place.

On receiving the final formal proposal, the Minister assured that we may look at appointing an international consultant to take up detailed study and preparation of feasibility report and DPR for these stretches.

Gadkari reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment of India’s active support in strengthening bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile India and Sri Lanka will hold a dialogue on how to check the growing threat of the Islamic State in South Asia and any attempt by the terror outfit to destabilise the region.

The issue was discussed when Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh called on visiting Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe in New Delhi today.

The home minister welcomed the Sri Lankan prime minister and emphasised on the close political ties between the two countries.

Both the leaders expressed concern over the growing ISIS threat and agreed that there should be a continuous dialogue between the security organisations of the two countries to thwart any attempt by the terror outfit to destabilise the stability and peace in the region, an official statement said.

The issues concerning the fishermen who inadvertently cross the international maritime boundary line were also discussed and it was felt that the same should be resolved at the earliest with no more loss of lives, it said.

Source: ANI/Outlook

-Agencies