Addressing media following the 7th Meeting of the Joint Commission with his Sri Lankan counterpart Prof. G. L. Peiris, the Indian Minister said the Joint Commission discussions covered all areas of bilateral relevance, including trade, services and investment, development cooperation, science and technology, culture and education.
Earlier in the day Krishna met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and participated in signing of the credit agreement for $416.39 million for the Northern Railway construction project. Work on the Northern Railway Line will commence soon with the inauguration scheduled for today, Krishna said.
The visiting Minister has said that the Joint Commission discussions held with Minister Peiris were very useful and productive.
The two ministers have witnessed the exchange of Instruments of Ratification of the Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Prisoners and of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.
Opening of Indian Consulates in Hambantota and Jaffna is a significant milestone in the quest for building a vibrant and multi-faceted partnership between the two countries, Krishna said.
"It is important that we leverage our common strategic interests, further enhance connectivity and economic engagement, and promote people-to-people contacts," he noted.
"In this connection, we also expect to resume ferry services between Colombo and Tuticorin and Thalaimannar and Rameswaram soon, an agreement on which has been finalized," the Indian Minister revealed.
The two governments Friday have exchanged Letters on the pilot phase of a project to construct 50,000 houses for the displaced people in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and also for estate workers in the Central Provinces.
The project will be an enduring symbol of India-Sri Lanka partnership, the visiting Minister told the media.
Minister Krishna said the cessation of hostilities in Sri Lanka in May last year provides a historic opportunity to address all outstanding issues related to rehabilitation as well as a political settlement in a spirit of understanding and mutual accommodation.
"It is our hope that a structured dialogue mechanism to work towards this end will be launched soon. We have been assured that it is the intention of the Sri Lankan Government to resettle the Internally Displaced Persons by the end of this year," he said.
Addressing the issue of fishermen crossing maritime borders, the Indian Minister said he also took the opportunity to emphasize on the need to adhere to the October 2008 understanding on fishing arrangements arrived at between the two countries, which has had a salutary effect on the incidence of fishermen's arrests and on their safety.
The two sides have agreed for the joint Working Group on Fishing to meet soon.
The Indian Foreign Minister extended an invitation to Minister Peiris to visit New Delhi at his convenience to take forward the bilateral discussions.
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