Good evening all,
First of all, I use this opportunity to thank
the representatives of Galle Chamber of Commerce for inviting me to the 34th
Annual General Meeting and award ceremony.
Friends,
Sri Lanka is India’s closest maritime neighbour and friend. The
people of the two countries share deep-rooted commonalities in cultural,
spiritual, linguistic, commercial and several other spheres, extending back
thousands of years. Today, India and Sri Lanka are taking rapid strides in our
bilateral engagements guided by leaders in both countries committed to ever
stronger relationship for shared progress, prosperity and peace.
Dear friends,
Sri Lanka
currently is going through multiple challenges. As a reliable and dependable
partner, India last year alone extended a financial support of more than 4
billion USD to overcome the economic issues. This year India is the first
creditor nation of Sri Lanka to support debt restructuring and convey financing
assurances to IMF in order to clear the way forward for Sri Lanka to secure the
IMF programme. As a close partner, India will encourage greater investments in
the Sri Lankan economy, in several key sectors.
Sri Lanka
occupies a central place in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Neighbourhood
First’ Policy. Hence India will continue as an active partner in catalysing the
economic recovery of Sri Lanka. Indian investments in mutually beneficial
sectors such as ports, renewable energy, infrastructure etc. will be
instrumental in this, through employment generation and stepped up economic
activities. In the tourism sector India continues to be the single largest
source of tourists for Sri Lanka and discussions are ongoing for promoting
religious tourism between the two countries.
Friends,
I use this
opportunity to inform you all that India formally assumed the G20 Presidency,
from Indonesia, on 1 December 2022. The G20 as you all know is an
intergovernmental forum of the world’s 20 major developed and developing
economies, making it the premier forum for international economic cooperation.
The theme of G20 Presidency is “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth One Family One
Future”. The G20 Presidency offers an opportunity to India to contribute
to the global agenda on pressing issues of international importance. During the
course of its G20 Presidency, India will hold about 200 meetings in 32
different sectors in multiple locations across India.
Friends,
To
conclude, I like to reiterate what our External Affairs Minister Dr.
S.Jaishankar sir said during his recent visit to Sri Lanka last week. India
will be a reliable and, a trustworthy partner, one who is prepared to go the
extra mile when Sri Lanka feels the need. We are confident that Sri Lanka will
overcome the current challenges that it currently faces.
Thank you
