The Monthly Newsletter of the High Commission of India, Colombo AUGUST 2011 65th Independence Day of India AUGUST 2011 CONTENTS 65th INDEPENDENCE DAY 65th Independence Day of India Celebrations in Sri Lanka 3 Message from Mr. Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, on the Occasion of the 65th Independence Day of India 4 Independence Day Celebrations at Consulates General of India 6 BILATERAL BEAT Suo Motu Statement in Lok Sabha by the Hon’ble External Affairs Minister, Sh. S.M. Krishna, on “The Situation in Sri Lanka” on 4th August 2011 7 Excerpts of the Statement by Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs, Shri S. M. Krishna on “the steps taken by Government of India (GOI) for relief and resettlement of Tamils in Sri Lanka” in Lok Sabha on August 26, 2011 8 Visit of Hon’ble Speaker of Sri Lankan Parliament to India 11 Visit of Hon’ble Minister of Health of Sri Lanka to India 12 Signing of an Agreement for supply and installation of Signalling and Telecommunication system for railway network in Northern Province of Sri Lanka 13 Student Exchange Programme between St. Patrick’s College Jaffna and St. Francis De Sales Senior Secondary School, New Delhi 13 27th Meeting of the Board of Directors of the India - Sri Lanka Foundation 14 Cairn Lanka starts oil exploration in Mannar 15 Dabur India sets up new subsidiary in Sri Lanka 15 Indocean invests Rs 6.5 b for a prime project near Gangaramaya 15 High Commission of India ECONOMIC STRIDES No. 36 -38, Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka Tel: +94-11 2327587, +94-11 2422788-9 India emerges as a major global donor with its $7 bn given Fax: +94-11-2446403, +94-11 2448166 during 2004-10 15 E-mail: [email protected] website: www.hcicolombo.org Innovation Inc 17 Assistant High Commission of India No. 31, Rajapihilla Mawatha, PO Box 47, Kandy, Sri Lanka Solar equipment majors eye India as manufacturing hub 17 Tel: +94 81 2222652 Fax: +94 81 2232479 CULTURE E-mail: [email protected] Exhibition- Harmony and Rhythm 18 Consulate General of India No. 103, New Road, Hambantota, Sri Lanka Tel: +94-47 2222500, +94-47 2222503 Visit of the Students and teachers of Hillwood College, Kandy Fax: +94-47 2222501 to Visva Bharati University, Shantiniketan 18 E-mail: [email protected] Consulate General of India Tagore Film Festival 19 No. 280, Palaly Road, Jaffna, Sri Lanka Tel: +94-21 2220502, +94-21 2220504, The Cultural Calendar for the month of September 2011 20 +94-21 2220505 Fax: +94-21 2220503 E-mail: [email protected] Cover Page:Watercolors The Flag, SUMAN RAMACHANDRA AUGUST 2011 65th INDEPENDENCE DAY 65th Independence Day of India Celebrations in Sri Lanka High Commissioner inspecting the guard of honour presented by BSF contingent The High Commission of India and the Indian and Foreign Direct Investment. High expatriate community in Sri Lanka celebrated the Commissioner also highlighted that earlier this 65th Independence Day of India on Monday, 15th month, negotiations were completed on August at India House in Colombo. High agreements to set up a 500 MW power project at Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha unfurled the Sampur in Trincomalee by National Thermal National Flag, which was followed by rendering Power Corporation (NTPC) and all the of the National Anthem by the lady officials of the agreements have been initialed and will be High Commission and the Indian community. The signed shortly. High Commissioner also High Commissioner inspected the Guard of expressed happiness at the resumption of ferry Honour presented by the BSF contingent and service between India and Sri Lanka after about read out excerpts from the Address to the Nation 30 years with the commencement of ferry service on the eve of Independence Day by the President between Tuticorin and Colombo in June this year. of India, Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil. On the occasion, High Commissioner also conveyed his greetings to the citizens of Sri Lanka and noted that India and Sri Lanka, knit together by the ties of history, geography and culture, were destined to play key roles in the rising Asia and our partnership must therefore progress in the spirit of being the closest of neighbours and friends whose destinies were interlinked. High Commissioner highlighted the exchange of high level visits in the recent past and emphasized the successful implementation of engagement of bilateral agenda in all fields. Last year, India was Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner and also emerged as the number one source country in terms of foreign tourist arrivals High Commissioner placing wreath at the IPKF memorial 3 AUGUST 2011 High Commissioner also highlighted the included patriotic songs and colourful and patriotic progress in the construction of 50,000 houses dance performances by the students of the Indian under a grant provided by India and also the work Cultural Centre. Subsequently, High in progress for the wreck-removal and salvage at Commissioner and other officials of the High the Kankesanthurai Harbour which will help in Commission paid their respects to the memory of restoring traditional commercial linkages. High fallen soldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force Commissioner also highlighted the rapid (IPKF) in a solemn ceremony at the IPKF progress in reconstruction of railway lines in Memorial in Colombo. Northern Sri Lanka, under a Government of India Line of Credit of US $800 million and another On the occasion of the 65th Independence Day of railway project in Southern part under another India, a Kathak performance titled “Melody & concessional credit line of US$ 167.4 million. He Rhythm” by renowned Kathak exponents Nalini- also highlighted that construction of a 150-bed Kamalini and their Guru Jitendra Maharaj was multi-specialty hospital at Dickoya in the Central organized by the Indian Cultural Centre at Bishop Province under a grant from the Government of College’s Auditorium in Colombo on 15th August. India has started and that all the projects funded The Kathak maestros also performed at by the Government of India are being Hambantota and Kandy during their visit to Sri implemented in a smooth and timely manner. Lanka. A brief cultural programme followed which Hon. Dullas Alhapperuma, Minister for Youth Affairs & Skills Development, lighting the traditional lamp to inaugurate the Kathak Cultural performance by ICC students at India House to Performance. Shri. Ashok K. Kantha, the High Commissioner of celebrate the 65th Independence Day of India India and Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management are also seen in the picture Message from High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha on the Occasion of the 65th Independence Day of India Today, as India celebrates its 65th Independence Day, we celebrate our nation's continuing commitment to democracy, pluralism and diversity of religion, language, race, ethnicity and culture. This diversity, we feel, is the key to our unity. Today, India’s message to the world is that of pluralism, tolerance and balance between individual rights and collective responsibilities. Internationally, there is now widespread respect for India’s role as a force of moderation, reason High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha delivering the President’s and stability and for her values and ideals rooted message on the occasion of Independence Day of India. in peaceful coexistence, multilateralism, justice, freedom, equality and fraternity. On the occasion of the 65th Independence Day of India, I extend my greetings and good wishes to my fellow citizens of India and to the people India, which emerged relatively unscathed from and the Government of the Democratic Socialist the global economic crisis, has been growing at Republic of Sri Lanka. an average of over 6% per annum, over the past twenty-five years. Real GDP growth rate 4 AUGUST 2011 averaged 7.3% in the last decade, catapulting the enhanced economic cooperation are now Indian economy to the status of the second underway and I do hope that the coming months fastest growing large economy in the world. In the will see the fruition of these efforts to the mutual fiscal year 2011-12, we are fairly confident that benefit of both our countries. our economy will maintain a growth rate of around 8%. This growth is vital to fund our Mahatma Gandhi called Sri Lanka the ‘nearest ambitious programmes of socio-economic neighbour’ to India. It is through that prism that development, to bridge the infrastructure deficit we see our ties. For Sri Lanka, the end of three and to create employment opportunities for our decades of internal conflict has brought historic young population. opportunities. Today, Sri Lanka is poised to take advantage of the peace dividend. India, as its Buoyed by this rapid and sustainable economic closest neighbour, is prepared to be Sri Lanka’s growth, India is seeking to play a role partner in this journey. India has always been commensurate with her size, potential, committed to the unity, sovereignty and territorial civilisational heritage and destiny. We have integrity of Sri Lanka and to the restoration of sought to be a reasonable and moderating force lasting peace through reconciliation. It is our in the UN Security Council, to which India was hope that the vision and leadership that resulted elected in October last year as a non-permanent in an end to armed conflict will now be employed member for 2011-2012. India has continued to in the quest for a genuine political settlement support strongly the processes of reform and resulting in national reconciliation among all the restructuring of the UN, including expansion of communities of Sri Lanka. We will continue to the permanent membership of the UN Security support Sri Lanka’s commitment to heal the Council to make it better equipped to respond wounds of the past and to build a caring society effectively to an era of transformational change in which ensures a life of equality and dignity to all global affairs.