Newsletter of the High Commission of India, Colombo 2013 October - December 1 Contents VISITS India-Sri Lanka Foundation : Invitation for Project Proposals 18 India launches Mars probe on External Affairs Minister nation’s first interplanetary mission Shri Salman Khurshid’s visit 3 IRCON in Sri Lanka 18 Visit of Prime Minister Sampur Coal Power Project 20 of India to Russia 4 TECHNOLOGY Visit of Prime Minister of India to China 5 Indian Rocket GSLV D5 with Indigenous Cryogenic Engine State Visit of His Highness, Successfully Launched 21 Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of PM Congratulates ISRO on the Kuwait to India 6 Successful Launch of GSLV D5 21 Visit of External Affairs India Launches Mars Probe on Minister of India to Sri Lanka for Nation’s First Interplanetary Mission 22 CHOGM 2013 7 CULTURE Visit of the Emperor of Japan to India 7 Mahatma Gandhi Oration by State Visit of His Excellency Prof. Sudharshan Seneviratne 24 Mr. Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, President of the Republic of Bharatha Natyam Recital by Maldives to India 8 Shanmugasharma Jeyaprakash and Sri Kanknan 25 BILATERAL BEAT An evening of Indian and Sri Northern Provincial Elections Lankan dances by Chandana in Sri Lanka 9 Wickramasinghe and the Dancer’s Guild of Sri Lanka 25 Remarks by Hon’ble EAM at the Ceremony for Distribution of Slide Lecture by renowned artist Certificates to Beneficiaries of the Shanthamani at the Faculty of Indian Housing Project and Small Visual Art, University of Visual Business Enterprises in the Northern and Performing Arts 26 Province of Sri Lanka at Jaffna 9 Screening of Documentary Magic Foundation Stone laid for Realism and After Indian English Handicrafts Village in Hambantota 11 Fiction: 1981-2011 26 Visit of 11-member CEOs Mission Deepadhvani Sanndhvani at ICC 26 High Commission of India from the Confederation of Indian No. 36 -38, Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka Industry (CII) to participate in the “Natya Kavyam” by Mohanapriyan Tel: +94-11 2327587, +94-11 2422788-9 Thavaraja 27 Commonwealth Business Forum Fax: +94-11-2446403, +94-11 2448166 in Sri Lanka 12 E-mail: [email protected] Children’s Day and the Shankar’s website: www.hcicolombo.org International Children’s Competition Project to set up nine language labs facebook: www.facebook.com/hcicolombo in the nine provinces of Sri Lanka at the Indian Cultural Centre, inaugurated at Gampaha in Western Colombo 27 Assistant High Commission of India Province 13 No. 31, Rajapihilla Mawatha, PO Box 47, Kandy, India International Art Exhibition 28 Sri Lanka Launch of the Indian Gallery at Tel: +94 81 2222652 Dance performance titled Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy 15 Fax: +94 81 2232479 “Nrityoliasam” 28 E-mail: [email protected] 10,250 Houses completed in Sri Lanka under the Indian Sangeeth Sandhya by Padmashri Consulate General of India Pandit Amaradeva 29 Housing Project in 2013 16 No. 103, New Road, Hambantota, Sri Lanka Tel: +94-47 2222500, +94-47 2222503 Workshop on Kathak Dance and India - Most Desired Place for Fax: +94-47 2222501 Choreography 29 Bank BPOs 17 E-mail: [email protected] Scholarships for Studying in India 17 Screening of the Tamil film Consulate General of India “Ini Avan” and Meet the Director 30 No. 14, Maruthady Lane, Jaffna, Sri Lanka Tel: +94-21 2220502, +94-21 2220504, +94-21 2220505 Fax: +94-21 2220503 E-mail: [email protected] COVER PAGE : Hon’ble External Affairs Minister Shri Salman Khurshid called on the Hon’ble Sri Lankan Minister of External 2 Affairs Prof. G.L.Peiris during his two day visit to Sri Lanka in October 2013 October - December - 2013 Visits External Affairs Minister Shri Salman Khurshid’s visit 7 October 2013 The External Affairs Minister of India, Shri Salman of External Affairs Prof. G.L.Peiris and later held Khurshid, was on a two day visit to Sri Lanka from delegation level bilateral talks. A Joint Media Interaction 7 October 2013. On arrival at the Bandarnaike was held thereafter. Many agreements including International Airport, Hon’ble EAM was received by those relating to Sampur Power Project were signed. Hon. Mr. Felix Perera, Minister of Social Services, Government of Sri Lanka. Hon’ble EAM visited the Northern Province of Sri Lanka on 8 October 2013. During his visit he Hon’ble EAM visited the Indian Peace Keeping Force distributed certificates to beneficiaries of the Indian (IPKF) memorial in Colombo on 7 October 2013 and Housing Project and had meetings with the Governor laid a wreath at the memorial. and the newly-elected Chief Minister of the Northern He called on H.E. the President of Sri Lanka in Province. He was accompanied on the visit The High Colombo on 8 October 2013. Commissioner, HE Shri Y.K.Sinha. On the first day of his two day visit to Sri Lanka, Hon’ble EAM called on the Hon’ble Sri Lankan Minister 3 October - December - 2013 Visit of Prime Minister of India to Russia 20 - 22 October 2013 At the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, Prime During his visit, the Prime Minister held talks with Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh paid an President Putin to advance India’s special and Official Visit to Moscow from 20 - 22 October, privileged strategic partnership with the Russian 2013 for the 14th India-Russia Annual Summit. Federation, in addition to other engagements. 4 October - December - 2013 Visit of Prime Minister of India to China 22 - 24 October 2013 Following his visit to Russia, Prime Minister of India, on bilateral, regional and global issues with a view Dr. Manmohan Singh paid an Official Visit to China to strengthening the bilateral partnership. Prime on 22-24 October 2013 at the invitation of Premier Minister also met President Mr. Xi Jinping and National Mr. Li Keqiang. The two leaders held discussions People’s Congress Chairman, Mr. Zhang Dejiang. 5 October - December - 2013 State Visit of His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait to India 7-10 November 2013 At the invitation of Prime Minister of India, Dr. India and Kuwait historically share friendly relations Manmohan Singh, His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al- based on close people-to-people contacts. Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister Geographic proximity, historical trade links, cultural of Kuwait, paid a State Visit to India from 7-10 affinities and growing cooperation in key areas of November 2013. He was accompanied by a high- mutual interest, including interalia energy security, level delegation, including ministers, senior officials trade and investment, infrastructure development and captains of industry. projects, petrochemicals and education continue to strengthen and broaden this longstanding This was the first Head of Government-level visit from relationship. Kuwait to India since the post of Crown Prince and Prime Minister was bifurcated in 2003. From India, The two countries are among each other’s major the last Head of Government level visit was in 1981 trading partners. Kuwait has been India’s fourth when the then Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi, largest crude oil supplier globally with bilateral visited Kuwait. trade in excess of US$ 17 billion in 2012-13. Both countries are exploring enhanced cooperation in During the visit, Prime Minister, Sheikh Jaber called energy and other sectors through mutually beneficial on President, H.E. Shri Pranab Mukherjee and Vice- investments in projects, including in oil exploration, President, Shri Hamid Ansari. He held bilateral talks refineries, petrochemical complexes and fertilizer with Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh. His other plants. engagements included meetings with Ministers of Finance, External Affairs and Commerce & Industry. Indians form the largest expatriate community in Sheikh Jaber also attended a business luncheon Kuwait and their positive contribution in the progress meeting jointly organised by the three business and development of their host country is well chambers, FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM. Prime Minister, recognized. There are over 700,000 Indian nationals Sheikh Jaber and his delegation also visited Agra. working in Kuwait. 6 October - December - 2013 Visit of External Affairs Minister of India to Sri Lanka for CHOGM 2013 13-15 November 2013 Hon’ble External Affairs Minister, Shri Salman for CHOGM 2013. On arrival, Hon’ble EAM and Khurshid, accompanied by Foreign Secretary, members of his delegation were received at the Smt Sujatha Singh and Senior Members of the Airport by Hon. G. Gunawardena, Deputy Minister delegation, arrived at the Bandarnaike International of Civil Aviation, Government of Sri Lanka, High Airport, Colombo by a special Indian Air Force plane Commissioner H.E. Shri Y.K.Sinha and other officials. Visit of the Emperor of Japan to India 30 November 2013 Japanese Emperor Akihito and his wife Empress The Monarch and his wife had visited India as Crown Michiko visited India in November 2013 with Prince and Crown Princess in 1960. an aim to further strengthening bilateral ties. The Royal couple were in India at the invitation of This was be the first ever visit of an Emperor and the President of India, H.E. Shri Pranab Mukherjee. Empress of Japan to India. 7 October - December - 2013 The Emperor had meetings with the President and Negotiations for the civil nuclear cooperation Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, to discuss agreement have not made much headway since bilateral, regional and international issues. Japan was struck by Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011. The ties between India and Japan are on the upswing. Dr. Singh had visited Japan in May 2013, during In the financial year 2011-12, India-Japan bilateral which both sides had agreed to further enhance trade reached USD 18.43 billion. cooperation in diverse fields, particularly in trade and investment.