During President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Official Visit to India in July 2023, Both Nations
Pledge to Strengthen Economic Ties
In a significant development bolstering the longstanding ties between Sri Lanka and India, a
landmark initiative in capacity building was launched 12th February, following extensive
discussions between high-level officials from both nations.
During President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to India in July 2023, both leaders expressed a
shared vision of economic partnership aimed at fostering prosperity by enhancing bilateral
relations. Emphasizing the critical importance of connectivity, particularly people-to-people
cooperation, they underscored the need for collaborative efforts to achieve mutual growth.
Today’s initiative stems from the deliberations between Mr. Bharat Lal, Director General of
India’s National Center for Good Governance, and senior Sri Lankan officials, including the
President and Prime Minister. The discussions focused on innovative approaches to
improving Sri Lanka’s public service, including measures to enhance performance through
monitoring.
As a result, a high-level delegation comprising 14 senior Sri Lankan officials, led by Prime
Minister’s Secretary Mr. Anura Dissanayake, will engage in extensive discussions with Indian
institutions. The program, scheduled from February 12 to 17, 2024, at India’s National Center
for Good Governance, will cover various aspects such as digitalization, capacity
development, anti-corruption measures, and investment facilitation.
The delegation aims to gain insights into India’s recent initiatives for transforming its public
service qualitatively and implementing policy improvements successfully. Additionally, they
seek to prioritize capacity development in Sri Lankan government institutions contributing to
the nation’s economic growth.
During their visit, the Sri Lankan delegation will also meet with key Indian officials,
including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of State for Personnel, and the Principal
Secretary to the Prime Minister, to explore avenues for further collaboration.
This capacity building initiative marks a significant step towards realizing the shared goals of
economic prosperity and sustainable development between Sri Lanka and India. It reflects the
commitment of both nations to harnessing their collective potential for mutual benefit and
regional stability.
President’s Media Division
14.02.2024
Sri Lanka and India Forge Strategic Partnership for Economic Prosperity through Capacity Building Initiative
