The India-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Association for the ninth Parliament of Sri Lanka was established recently at the Parliament complex under the patronage of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana. Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay was the Guest of Honour.
Over 100 Members of Parliament including Ministers and State Ministers attended the meeting.
Minister of Irrigation and State Minister of National Security and Disaster Management and State Minister of Home Affairs Chamal Rajapaksa was elected President of the Association.
MPs Rauff Hakeem, M.A Sumanthiran and Dr. V. Radhakrishnan were elected Vice- Presidents of the Association.
Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, MP and State Minister for Estate Housing and Community Infrastructure Jeevan Thondaman were elected Secretary and Assistant Secretary. Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, MP was elected Treasurer of the Association.
Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris highlighted the close ties between India and Sri Lanka. He said that the greatest gift of India to Sri Lanka was Buddhism and the importance of people to people connectivity between the two countries.
The High Commissioner congratulated the President and office- bearers on their membership of the Association.
He expressed confidence that the establishment of the Association would reinvigorate Parliamentary exchanges and interactions between the two democracies. He said that this would help in strengthen the multi-faceted bilateral relationship between the two nations, especially in six areas including fostering sharing of democratic values, cooperation in combatting common challenges, enhancing people-to-people connectivity, encouraging greater economic engagement, strengthening the cultural connect and sharing the fruits of development partnership.
