INDIA OFFERS TO WORK WITH LANKA ON DEBT RESTRUCTURING, ECONOMIC RECOVERY

India will work closely with Sri Lanka on discussions regarding debt restructuring as well as on the path of its economic recovery, with greater collaboration in promotion of digital education, digital payments, digital identity and cooperation in dairy development opening up vistas of greater engagement.

- NIVEDITA MUKHERJEE

FM VISIT TO SRI LANKA

The suggestions came up during Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's meeting with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in Colombo. The meeting also saw discussions on various aspects of India-Sri Lanka economic partnership, promotion of greater trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people ties.

The Finance Minister also met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and highlighted the potential of the ‘Vision document on Economic Partnership’ -- adopted during his visit to India in July 2023 – to further strengthen the countries’ maritime, air, digital, energy and people-to-people connectivity. Sitharaman’s visit comes at a time when Sri Lanka is envisioning to build a new market economy with focus on tourism, sustainability, agricultural modernisation and digitisation which holds opportunity for collaboration with India.