Modi, Dissanayake discuss ‘energy cooperation’ over telephone call

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:31:00 +0000

File image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Photo: PMO via PTI Photo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Tuesday had a telephone conversation to discuss the war in West Asia, the disruption in global supply chains, and the energy cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, the leaders said on social media platform ‘X’.

“This evening [March 24, 2026], I held a telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi regarding the escalating situation in the Middle East. We discussed its impact on regional and global supply chains, as well as energy cooperation and regional security between our two nations,” Mr. Dissanayake said in a post.

Mr. Modi, too, posted on the call. “Spoke with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and discussed the evolving situation in West Asia, with particular focus on disruptions affecting global energy security. We reviewed progress on key initiatives aimed at strengthening India-Sri Lanka energy cooperation and enhancing regional security. As close and trusted partners, we reaffirmed our commitment to work closely together in addressing shared challenges,” he said.

Energy conservation

The telephone call was initiated by the Sri Lankan government, official sources told The Hindu, even as Colombo takes a series of measures to cope with the imminent energy crisis, including rationing fuel supply with a weekly quota for vehicles, and a sharp increase in fuel prices a few days ago. On Monday, Mr. Dissanayake instructed the officials to take “all possible measures” towards energy conservation, by raising public awareness on careful use of energy during the peak hours, a statement from his office said. Last week, the government also declared Wednesdays off for public sector workers to save fuel usage.

The call between Mr. Modi and Mr. Dissanayake comes a day after conversation between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, following which Mr. Jaishankar said in a social media post that he discussed the repercussions of the West Asia conflict. “India stands committed to #NeighbourhoodFirst and #VisionMAHASAGAR,” he said in the post on ‘X’. As the war in West Asia escalated, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Maldives requested energy supplies from India, the Ministry of External Affairs said on March 12, 2026.

In the wake of an imminent energy crisis, Mr. Herath earlier called the India-backed Trincomalee oil tank farm project, in the island’s Eastern Province, the “permanent solution” to managing such situations. Last April, during Mr. Modi’s visit to the island, the two countries signed a set of MoUs. Energy sector cooperation — including energy grid connection and developing Trincomalee as an energy hub in partnership with the United Arab Emirates — was key among them.

Published – March 24, 2026 11:55 pm IST

Source link

Sri Lanka to soon formulate national policy on visits by foreign research vessels: Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister

admin — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 20:35:00 +0000

File photo of Chinese military survey ship Yuan Wang 5 at Hambantota International Port in Hambantota, Sri Lanka in 2022.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Sri Lanka will soon formulate a national policy on allowing visits by foreign research vessels, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said in Colombo on Friday (December 20, 2024), amidst frequent docking requests from Chinese surveillance ships which raised concerns in India.

Mr. Herath’s comments came days after Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to India.

Also read | After India visit, Dissanayake discusses maritime research and development with China

In January, Sri Lanka enforced a year-long moratorium on foreign marine scientific research survey vessels operating in its waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone after strong security concerns were raised by India and the US following frequent docking requests from hi-tech Chinese surveillance vessels.

Sri Lanka’s moratorium on allowing research vessels is still in force which would be reviewed appropriately, Herath said.

Upon his return to Colombo from India, Mr. Dissanayake held a meeting with a top Chinese government official who expressed China’s wish to see Chinese research ships resuming their visits to Colombo. Asked if India had raised concerns over such visits during Mr. Dissanayake’s stay in India, Herath said Indian concerns were based on their national security and regional security threats.

“We assured that we will not allow any action to threaten Indian security concerns by using our land,” Mr. Herath said.

“The visit has turned out to be one which has resulted in many achievements for the people of Sri Lanka,” Mr. Herath said.

“It took the relationship to a new height,” he said.

vHerath said that India and Sri Lanka did not seal any formal agreements during vDissanayake’s visit other than signing two MoUs on training Sri Lankan public service officials and preventing dual taxation.

“We have only agreed to take forward the talks related to the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA). There was no final agreement on anything,” Mr. Herath said.

When Mr. Dissanayake’s National People’s Power was not in power it had expressed bitter opposition to the agreement.

Mr. Herath also rejected allegations that Dissanayake finalized an agreement in Delhi for a direct fuel pipeline and a security pact across the Palk Strait.

“We were emphatic that we are for promoting trade and investment between the two countries,” Mr. Herath said.

Published – December 21, 2024 02:05 am IST

Source link

sri lanka Dissanayake – Artifex.News

Modi, Dissanayake discuss ‘energy cooperation’ over telephone call

Energy conservation

Sri Lanka to soon formulate national policy on visits by foreign research vessels: Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister