Sri Lankan Minister Lauds PM Modi, Emphasizes Connectivity for Growth

Sri Lankan State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tharaka Balasuriya, praised PM Narendra Modi as 'charming' and 'visionary'. Balasuriya highlighted the importance of regional connectivity for growth, discussing energy security, trade, and tourism at the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat in New Delhi.

State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, Tharaka Balasuriya, described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as 'charming' and a 'visionary' during his visit to New Delhi for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Foreign Ministers' Retreat.

Balasuriya emphasized the significance of regional connectivity, agreeing with Modi's assessment that enhanced connectivity among countries such as Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, and Thailand would foster more business opportunities. The Sri Lankan minister shared his positive experience at the retreat and praised the candid exchange of ideas among the attendees.

Discussing Sri Lanka's approach to energy, trade, and transportation, Balasuriya mentioned the focus on three main verticals: energy security, food security, and people's security. He highlighted India’s initiative on e-visas for medical tourism within the BIMSTEC region and touched upon collaborative efforts in space technologies.

The minister also underscored the necessity of improving connectivity with India to boost tourism, trade, and energy sectors in Sri Lanka. He noted that exploiting wind power in Sri Lanka could generate new revenue streams, aligning with Prime Minister Modi's vision for regional economic growth.