External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar led the Indian delegation in the 23rd Council of Ministers (COM) meeting and the 25th Committee of Senior Officials held within the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. During this significant gathering, India assumed the role of Vice Chair for the IORA for the period 2023-2025, with Chairmanship set for 2025-2027.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed in an official statement that the IORA Senior Officials conducted a comprehensive review of the ongoing and forthcoming activities for 2022-2027 ahead of this pivotal meeting.
At the COM meeting, the delegates endorsed the Colombo Communique and unveiled the ‘IORA Vision 2030 and Beyond,’ among several other IORA-related documents.
EAM Jaishankar also seized the opportunity to meet with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the President’s Secretariat. During this engagement, multiple agreements were exchanged. These agreements included the Letter of Exchange and Acceptance pertaining to Phase 4 of the flagship Indian Housing Project, aimed at constructing 10,000 houses in plantation areas. Furthermore, additional funds were infused into nine ongoing High Impact Community Development projects.
Additionally, a virtual inauguration ceremony took place under President Wickremesinghe’s oversight, unveiling 126 houses in Badulla, Matale, and Matara districts under Phase 3 of the Indian Housing project, 48 houses in Matale and Puttalam districts as part of the Model Village Housing project, and 64 houses in Hambantota and Jaffna districts under the Gram Shakthi projects.
In a historic gesture, both nations launched a joint logo to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Sri Lanka.
The visit also saw the signing of a Joint Venture Shareholders’ agreement between the National Dairy and Development Board (NDDB), Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, and the Cargills Group of Sri Lanka. This joint venture aims to bolster the Sri Lankan dairy sector and enhance cooperation between the two nations.
EAM S Jaishankar’s visit to Colombo, which commenced on Tuesday, marks his second visit to Sri Lanka this year. During his stay, he will engage in bilateral meetings and discussions.
In his remarks, EAM Jaishankar underscored India’s profound commitment to IORA, emphasizing the principles of peaceful coexistence, shared prosperity, and regional collaboration. The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) serves as an inter-governmental organization that seeks to bolster regional cooperation and sustainable development across the Indian Ocean region through the active participation of its 23 Member States and 11 Dialogue Partners.
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