Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs,Nirmala Sitharaman, is set to embark on a significant three-day official visit to Sri Lanka, commencing today. The visit holds great diplomatic importance and will feature a series of key engagements aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka.
Union Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman to embark tomorrow on an official visit to Sri Lanka
Finance Minister will give Keynote Address at “NAAM 200” – the 200th anniversary of the arrival of India Origin Tamils in Sri Lanka; as also during India Sri Lanka Business Summit in… pic.twitter.com/84KHpMeppZ
— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) October 31, 2023
One of the key highlights of the visit is Sitharaman’s role as the Guest of Honour, delivering the Keynote Address at ‘NAAM 200.’ This event, organized by the Government of Sri Lanka, commemorates the 200th anniversary of the arrival of India-origin Tamils (IOTs) in Sri Lanka. ‘NAAM 200’ will take place on November 2 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo, and it will be graced by Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka, Dinesh Gunawardena, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, and other esteemed dignitaries from Sri Lankan politics and beyond. Representatives from Indian political parties and the Malaysian Tamil Congress will also be present at this historic occasion.
Furthermore, Union Finance Minister Sitharaman will deliver another Keynote Address at the India Sri Lanka Business Summit, themed ‘Enhancing Connectivity: Partnering for Prosperity.’ This summit, scheduled for November 2 at Hotel Taj Samudra in Colombo, is jointly organized by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Indo-Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
During her visit, Sitharaman will also call-on meetings with Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka, and Dinesh Gunawardena, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, further reinforcing bilateral relations.
A significant moment of the visit will be the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding for the Solar Electrification of Religious Places in Sri Lanka. India will allocate INR 82.40 crores as part of the Government of India’s grant assistance totaling INR 107.47 crores earmarked for strengthening Buddhist ties.
In addition, Sitharaman will inaugurate State Bank of India (SBI) branches in Trincomalee on November 2 and in Jaffna on November 3, contributing to financial access and services in these regions.
Her itinerary also includes visits to prominent cultural and religious sites, including Sri Dalada Maligawa (The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic) in Kandy, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura, Thirukoneswaram Temple in Trincomalee, and Nallur Kandaswamy Temple in Jaffna, showcasing the rich cultural and spiritual ties between the two nations.
In addition to these engagements, Union Minister Sitharaman isalso scheduled to visit Lanka IOC Oil Tank Farms, Jaffna Cultural Centre, and Jaffna Public Library, further strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.
