VP Radhakrishnan concludes Sri Lanka visit with key agreements signed

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan concluded his two-day visit to Sri Lanka on Monday, during which he held talks with the island nation’s top leadership as the two countries inked a number of agreements to deepen bilateral cooperation.

Radhakrishnan, the first vice president to visit Sri Lanka, arrived in Colombo on Sunday and held talks with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the same day. The two leaders discussed ongoing Indian project implementation in Sri Lanka, emphasising the $450 million Cyclone Ditwah aid offered by India.

Radhakrishnan stressed on India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and developmental bilateral cooperation, officials said.

“Both leaders held productive discussions on further deepening the multifaceted India–Sri Lanka ties, rooted in shared history, strong civilisational and people-to-people linkages,” his office said in a post on X.

They held wide-ranging discussions on various initiatives, including the Indian Housing Project and projects being implemented under the $450 million package for areas affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka, including reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the most affected regions of the Indian-origin Tamil community, it added. The two sides also discussed the fishermen's issue in a humanitarian manner, considering the livelihoods of fishing communities on both sides. Following the talks, the two sides inked six MoUs, including the construction of a medical ward in Mullaitivu, the establishment of a premature baby unit in Dehiattakandiya, construction of EYE, ENT and mental health units in Muthur, among others.

India also announced the extension of OCI eligibility up to the sixth generation of the Indian diaspora and the simplification of the process for the benefit of the Indian-origin Tamil community.

The two sides also announced the resumption of train services on the restored Northern Railway Line as a part of the post-Ditwah cyclone rehabilitation package.

They also announced the installation of a set of three Bailey bridges – one in Central Province (Kandy) and two in Uva Province as a part of the post-Ditwah rehabilitation. It was also announced that Sri Lanka will join the India-led International Big Cat Alliance.

 The vice president also met Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, who is also the education minister, and discussed cooperation in that area.

An announcement regarding the enhancement of the Ceylon Estate Workers Education Trust scholarship scheme was also made.

The number of scholarships under this scheme is being doubled from 350 to 700 and the monthly stipend is being increased from LKR 2,500 for A-level students and to LKR 7,500 for those pursuing higher education.

The vice president also announced the completion and handing over of the final tranche of houses under Phase 3 of the Indian Housing Project.

This Phase 3 includes 4,000 houses for estate workers in the plantation regions of the Central Province, Uva and the Southern Province of Sri Lanka.