News
Milinda intends to develop Indo-Lanka partnership to the level of a special relationship
High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Milinda Moragoda, appointed with Cabinet rank, presented his Letter of Credence to President Shri Ram Nath Kovind of India yesterday (22) in New Delhi.
In keeping with the established practice in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic situation, the Credentials ceremony was held virtually at the situation room of the Ministry of External Affairs. High Commissioner Moragoda presented his Letter of Credence to the President of India who linked with the Ministry of External Affairs from the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Following the presentation of the Letter of Credence, High Commissioner Moragoda conveyed greetings from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to President Ram Nath Kovind and expressed that the prime objective of his mission to India was to further develop the momentum of the existing partnership between the two countries, and to elevate that partnership to the level of a special relationship.
In response, President Shri Ram Nath Kovind thanked High Commissioner Moragoda for his intervention and stated that Sri Lanka occupied a special place in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ and SAGAR policies. He recalled the extremely friendly, historical and multi-dimensional ties between the two countries and the existent strong bilateral development cooperation. The President of India, while expressing his hope that the close cooperation between the two countries would continue to grow, requested the High Commissioner to convey his warm regards to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Milinda Moragoda is the 26th envoy of Sri Lanka to India since Sir Baron Jayatilaka was appointed the Representative of Ceylon in 1942.
The full text of the intervention made by High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda at the Credentials ceremony is as follows:
“I bring with me the warmest and most cordial greetings to Your Excellency from the President of Sri Lanka His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa. I consider it a singular honour to have presented my Credentials today as the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, the most prominent overseas assignment for a Sri Lankan diplomat.
I am also honoured by the confidence and trust my President has placed in me by appointing me as his High Commissioner to India, the cornerstone of our foreign policy, especially at a time when geopolitical developments globally and in this region in particular are becoming increasingly complex and challenging.
The prime objective of my mission in India would be to further develop the momentum of the existing partnership between our two countries, and to elevate that partnership to the level of a special relationship. With a view to realising this prime objective, I have developed a road map in the form of an integrated country strategy for the Sri Lankan diplomatic missions in India for the next two years.
In my view, Buddhism is the most precious gift that India has bestowed upon our country. The fact that India’s greatest emperor, the Buddhist ruler Dharmashoka, saw fit to send both his son and daughter on separate occasions to our country as emissaries to introduce and spread the teachings of the Blessed One, epitomises the strong and unbreakable civilisational bonds that exist between our two nations.
With this in mind, I have based my integrated country strategy for India on the teachings of the Buddha, in particular the ‘satara sampradha’ or the four accomplishments that comprises saddh?, s?la, c?ga, and paññ?, which in the modern context of international relations, could be interpreted as trust, virtuous behaviour, sacrifice and thorough understanding, respectively. It is my firm belief that these noble principles are pertinent in building trust and confidence between India and Sri Lanka.
I would be most grateful to receive the support of Your Excellency and that of the Government of India in realising the prime objective of my mission and to further strengthen the age-old, time-tested and multi-dimensional relations between our two countries.”
Latest News
188 complaints received in the 24 hours ending 4.30pm on 11th November
The Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Rathnayake said that the EC received 188 complaints during the 24 hours that ended at 4.30pm on Monday 11th November. Of the 188, 187 were of incidents related to the violation of election laws while one was an incident of election related violence.
The EC has received a total of 2999 complaints from 26th September to 11th November 2024 and have investigated and resolved 2353.
Latest News
Navy detain Indian fishing boat poaching in Sri Lankan waters
The Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehend 12 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, during a special operation conducted off Chundikulam, Jaffna today (12th November 2024).
The Navy continues to conduct regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing boats, taking into account the impact of those practices on the livelihood of local fishermen.
Including this apprehension, the Navy has held 66 Indian fishing boats and 497 Indian fishermen this year, and handed them over to authorities for legal action.
News
Showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in Eastern, Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, and Southern provinces.
Weather forecast issued at 05.30 a.m. on 12 November 2024 by the Department of Meteorology
A low-pressure area is likely to form over the south west Bay of Bengal today (12). Under its influence, atmospheric conditions will be favorable for afternoon thundershowers in most parts of the island from 13th November.
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the morning.
Several spells of showers will occur in Northern Province. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere during the evening or night. Fairly heavy showers above 50 mm are likely at some places in Eastern, Central, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, and Southern provinces.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
-
Features3 days ago
When Sir John Kotelawala visited St. Joseph’s College
-
Sports7 days ago
How Sri Lanka stunned everyone in the Hong Kong Sixes
-
Features7 days ago
A call from university teachers for a commitment to free education
-
News3 days ago
SL will not be able to join BRICS right now but membership of its NDB bank okayed
-
Sports3 days ago
Pathum Nissanka; the ace up Sri Lanka’s sleeve
-
News7 days ago
Wijeweera’s son warns the danger of giving NPP 2/3rd majority
-
Editorial7 days ago
CPC skirts main issue
-
Opinion6 days ago
A new dawn for Sri Lanka