India will support Sri Lanka in these difficult times: Jaishankar

COLOMBO (News 1st); India on Thursday (6) assured Sri Lanka of its support to tide over "difficult times".

India also welcomed the Trincomalee tank farms project saying it will augment bilateral energy security.

After a phone conversation with his Sri Lankan counterpart Professor G. L. Peiris,  Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said India will support Sri Lanka in "these difficult times".

"Greeted FM G.L. Peiris of Sri Lanka in the New Year. A reliable friend, India will support Sri Lanka in these difficult times. Agreed to remain in close touch," Jaishankar tweeted.

Greeted FM G.L. Peiris of Sri Lanka in the New Year. A reliable friend, India will support Sri Lanka in these difficult times. Agreed to remain in close touch.

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 6, 2022

Indian External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, when asked on the possibility of India extending the credit line to help Sri Lanka overcome its economic crisis, said it has always stood by the people of that country.

On the fishermen issue, Bagchi said that the Indian High Commission in Colombo has been making efforts to ensure the early release of the remaining Indian fishermen detained by Sri Lankan authorities last month.

Sri Lanka had detained a total of 68 fishermen and 10 boats, and 12 of these fishermen have already been released, and the India High Commission is working on the release of the rest, said the spokesperson.

He said both sides are in consultation for the early holding of a meeting of the joint working group on fisheries.

On Sri Lanka's Cabinet approving the deal to jointly develop the Trincomalee oil tank farm with India, Bagchi said it will boost bilateral energy cooperation.

"We have seen reports that the Sri Lankan Cabinet has approved the development of the Trincomalee tank farms. Energy security is an important area of our bilateral cooperation with Sri Lanka," he said.

"We are in consultation with the Government of Sri Lanka for the modernization of the Trincomalee tank farms. This will allow for the storage of fuel and will augment bilateral energy security," Bagchi added.

The agreements to develop Trinco Oil Tank Farm were signed on Thursday (6), said Energy Ministry Udaya Gammanpila.

The Office of the Minister of Energy in a statement late Thursday (6) said that a majority of the tanks at the Trinco Oil Tank Farm which were under Lanka IOC will now be under the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation as a development project.

On the query on extending the credit line by India, Bagchi referred to the visit to New Delhi by Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa last month.

"He briefed the Indian side on the economic situation in Sri Lanka and his government's approach in addressing these challenges. India has always stood by the Sri Lankan people and Sri Lanka is an important part of our neighborhood first policy," he said.

He said during Rajapaksa's visit, discussions took place on deepening cooperation in areas of food and health security, energy security, the balance of payment issues, and Indian investments in Sri Lanka among others.

"I understand that further consultations are ongoing," Bagchi said.