High Commission of Sri Lanka in India

 Commander Western Naval Area Rear Admiral Damayantha Dharmasiriwardena, the officials of the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka including its Defence Attache Captain Pradeep Singh and other senior Naval officers were also present at the airport to receive the Indian Navy Chief and his entourage.

Indian Navy Commander pays a courtesy call on President Rajapaksa

Indian Navy Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma paid a courtesy call on His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees on 28 June. Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe and Indian High Commissioner Ashok Kantha were also present.

We are aware that some countries being battered by terrorism have taken strength from the victories won by Sri Lanka over terrorism. It is time for the countries facing attacks from terrorism to look back and see where they had gone wrong, whereas Sri Lanka has succeeded, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his address to the Nation on the Victory Day celebrations at Galle Face, Colombo today.

It is a grave error of judgment to think that while being opposed to terrorism targeting you, to believe that terrorism that is no threat to you is good…The world has so far trod on this wrong path. Terrorism remains unvanquished because of this incorrect thinking. The countries that show sympathy towards terrorism and separatism will be the victims of terrorism. This is the lesson of history, President Rajapaksa further said.

“Those of you who are keen to explore, will find abundant opportunities for investment in Sri Lanka. The scope is immense: from infrastructure, to agri-business, to manufacturing and to a range of services. You will also find that our country offers a rare package of skills, capacity, and a willingness to learn and adapt. Our policy is vibrant, our package is enticing and exciting, and you would do well to join us in our forward march. I earnestly invite you to do so,” said President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the Business Forum organized jointly by the Indian and Sri Lankan Chambers of Commerce in Colombo today, to coincide with the IIFA Awards Weekend.

Among the highlights of the President’s address to a large gathering of leading investors from India and Sri Lanka were :

• The world business community is now slowly but surely, acknowledging and appreciating Sri Lanka’s major successes in the economic sphere, though not much reported in the media.

• The relationship between Sri Lanka and India has been anchored in a rich heritage and is irreversible… we are now adding new spice to our relations with India and the world, with new and varied business opportunities.

• We strongly believe that to bring permanent peace there must be development. As I have often said, “there is no peace without development, and no development without peace.”

• We faced the global economic crisis bravely, and with certainty; our currency did not fluctuate unduly, and absorbed the shock of the massive global capital flight… Not a single bank or regulated financial institutions collapsed during the crisis, due to quick and well planned interventions, which built confidence. We faced all these successfully, while fighting terrorism.

• What we have achieved in terms of rehabilitation of those misled youth, and the resettlement of the IDPs, is far superior to any such exercise anywhere in the world.