Colombo, March 29 (Prensa Latina) India and Sri Lanka signed six agreements to boost bilateral cooperation in various sectors such as technology, fishing and hybrid energy projects.
Under the deals, India will provide a grant to help implement Sri Lanka’s Unique Digital Identity program and a Sea Rescue Coordination Centre.
One of the initialed memorandums of understanding deals with hybrid energy projects on three islands and another deals with cooperation in the development of fishing ports in Sri Lanka, the diplomatic mission of New Delhi in Colombo reported.
The parties signed agreements to create modern computer labs and smart boards with personalized study programs in 200 schools in Sri Lanka, and exchanges between the Sushma Swaraj Foreign Service Institute and the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met with Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Douglas Devananda.
Jaishankar arrived in Colombo on Sunday to attend the 18th Ministerial Meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec), which comprises India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.
The Indian foreign minister held talks with top Sri Lankan leaders on his first visit to the island nation since New Delhi issued an economic aid package to ease the ongoing economic crisis. During his separate meetings with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the country’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Jaishankar assured them of India’s continued support in the process of economic recovery.
Since January, New Delhi has been providing Colombo with $2.4 billion in aid through currency swaps, loan deferrals and lines of credit for essential imports to help it deal with the crippling currency crisis and shortages.
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