Won't let our land be used against India: SL President

NEW DELHI: Amid growing Chinese footprint in the Indian Ocean, India signed its first ever MoU for defence cooperation with Sri Lanka that will help both sides formalise and enhance cooperation between their armed forces. The agreement was one of the highlights of PM Narendra Modi's ongoing visit to the strategically-located neighbour that also saw a major boost for energy ties in the form of a grid inter-connectivity agreement that will allow Sri Lanka to export electricity and another MoU for developing Trincomalee as an energy hub.The bilateral meeting was followed by signing of seven MoUs and agreements. The leaders acknowledged that the security interests of India and Sri Lanka are interlinked and the President reassured India that he won't allow Lankan land or, as foreign secretary Vikram Misri recalled after the bilateral meeting, the oceans around it to be used in any way inimical to India's security interests or regional stability."We believe that we have shared security interests. The security of both countries is interconnected and co-dependent," said Modi, thanking Dissanayake for his sensitivity towards India's interests.Modi also announced a debt restructuring agreement that he said will provide immediate assistance and relief to the people of Sri Lanka, along with reduced interest rates on loans. "Today, we have also decided to reduce interest rates. It symbolises that even today, India stands with the people of Sri Lanka. For the social and economic development of the Eastern Provinces, a support package of approximately 2.4 billion Lankan rupees (around Rs 70 crore) will be provided," he said. India had earlier extended an aid package worth $4 billion to Sri Lanka to help the Indian Ocean country from a food and fuel crisis.Modi, the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lanka since the President assumed office last year, quoted Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar to say that in the face of challenges and enemies, there is no stronger assurance than a true friend and the shield of his friendship.Modi 1st foreign head to visit Lanka in Dissanayake tenureOn the sensitive issue of fishermen, the two decided to handle it with a humane approach with Modi emphasising on immediate release of fishermen and their boats.On the Tamil issue, Dissanayake briefed Modi about his “inclusive” approach and the Indian PM expressed hope that the Sri Lankan govt would meet the aspirations of the Tamil people and fulfil its commitment towards fully implementing the Constitution of Sri Lanka, and conducting provincial council elections. Like in their last meeting in Dec, when Dissanayake visited India, Modi did not specifically refer to the 13th Amendment for the devolution of power to the provinces.“Relations between India and Sri Lanka are based on mutual trust and goodwill. We will continue to work together to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of our people,” said Modi.Briefing the media about the defence MoU, Misri said it will make existing defence cooperation initiatives more structured. “There will be activities related to, of course, the continuing and even intensifying the tradition of high-level visits between the two countries, more joint exercises, capacity building in various areas, exchanges in HADR related operations, increasing port calls by naval units of both countries, and also to explore defence industry cooperation between the two sides,” said Misri.On conclusion of the debt restructuring process, Misri said India has been pursuing an investment-led strategy with Sri Lanka, together with a grant assistance-oriented approach to ensure that Sri Lanka is firmly on the path to sustainable and long-term economic recovery. In his address, Modi also said that loans worth $100 million had been converted into grants in the past six months.