Modi, Sirisena seal civil N-deal
17 Feb 2015 12:17 AM GMT
India and Sri Lanka also signed three other pacts, on cooperation in agriculture, culture, and Sri Lanka’s participation in the Nalanda University Project. This was announced after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena at Hyderabad House in the Capital. “The bilateral agreement on civil nuclear cooperation is yet another demonstration of our mutual trust. This is the first such agreement Sri Lanka has signed. It opens new avenues for cooperation, including in areas like agriculture and healthcare,” Modi said in a joint press interaction with Sirisena.
Both the leaders expressed commitment to find a solution to the fishermen issue by adopting a constructive and humanitarian approach. On the fishermen issue, Modi said he and the President attached the “highest importance” to it. “It affects livelihoods on both sides. We agreed that there must be a constructive and humanitarian approach to the issue. We will encourage the fishermen’s associations on both sides to meet again soon. They should find a solution that can be taken forward by both governments,” he said.
The Sri Lankan President expressed happiness over the outcome of the talks and said the friendship between the two countries was not only important to each other but was significant for the region as well. “I really appreciate Prime Minister Modi’s efforts (to improve ties). Relations between the two countries will be strengthened further,” he said.
The nuclear pact would facilitate cooperation in the transfer and exchange of knowledge and expertise, sharing of resources, capacity building and training of personnel in peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including use of radioisotopes, nuclear safety, radiation safety and nuclear security. It would also facilitate cooperation in radioactive waste management and nuclear and radiological disaster mitigation and environmental protection. Modi also said India was Sri Lanka’s closest neighbour and friend and the goodwill and support of the people of India will always be with it. “We also share a broad range of interests - economic development for our countries; peace and prosperity in South Asia; maritime security in the region,” added Modi.
Both the leaders expressed commitment to find a solution to the fishermen issue by adopting a constructive and humanitarian approach. On the fishermen issue, Modi said he and the President attached the “highest importance” to it. “It affects livelihoods on both sides. We agreed that there must be a constructive and humanitarian approach to the issue. We will encourage the fishermen’s associations on both sides to meet again soon. They should find a solution that can be taken forward by both governments,” he said.
The Sri Lankan President expressed happiness over the outcome of the talks and said the friendship between the two countries was not only important to each other but was significant for the region as well. “I really appreciate Prime Minister Modi’s efforts (to improve ties). Relations between the two countries will be strengthened further,” he said.
The nuclear pact would facilitate cooperation in the transfer and exchange of knowledge and expertise, sharing of resources, capacity building and training of personnel in peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including use of radioisotopes, nuclear safety, radiation safety and nuclear security. It would also facilitate cooperation in radioactive waste management and nuclear and radiological disaster mitigation and environmental protection. Modi also said India was Sri Lanka’s closest neighbour and friend and the goodwill and support of the people of India will always be with it. “We also share a broad range of interests - economic development for our countries; peace and prosperity in South Asia; maritime security in the region,” added Modi.
Next Story
