India willing to support key sectors in Sri Lanka - High Commissioner

COLOMBO (News1st): India will be willing to support key sectors in Sri Lanka that require special attention, India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka has said. Gopal Baglay, in a discussion with education minister Professor G.L. Peiris on Monday, had said India would be able to train mentors in the technical, professional, educational and training fields. The assistance that could be obtained from India to develop the education and vocational skills sectors had figured during the meeting, the education ministry said in a statement. Meanwhile, members of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) party had called on the High Commissioner this afternoon. The negative impact of abolishing the 13th and 19th amendments to the minority communities had been discussed during the meeting, party deputy leader Nazeer Ahamed said. The SLMC had told the Indian High Commissioner that they would require India's assistance to prevent such negative impacts. Accordingly, the Indian High Commissioner had said he would take the maximum possible measures on a diplomatic level in this regard, Ahamed added. Meanwhile, the SLMC had also requested the High Commissioner to assist in expanding the Batticaloa Airport to facilitate direct flights between Batticaloa and India. They had also requested to take steps to establish an Indian Consulate Office in Batticaloa.