India's Jaishankar In Sri Lanka: MRCC Built Under $6M Grant From India launched

COLOMBO (News 1st); Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar arrived in Sri Lanka on Thursday (20) on an official visit.

The Indian EAM said that this is Dr. S. Jaishankar's first bilateral visit after the formation of new Government under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. ⁠

Dr. S. Jaishankar was welcomed by State Minister of External Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya, and Provincial Governor Senthil Thondaman at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

The visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the President's House and engaged in a one-on-one meeting.

During the visit of Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to Sri Lanka, three milestones in Indo-Sri Lanka relations were achieved.

President Wickremesinghe & Dr. Jaishankar jointly unveiled the virtual plaque for 106 houses in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya & Matale under the Indian Housing Project with 24 houses in each model village in Colombo & Trincomalee being handed over virtually.

Thereafter, President Ranil Wickremesinghe & visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar jointly unveiled the virtual plaque to mark the formal commissioning of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Sri Lanka under a $6M grant from India.

This includes a centre at Navy HQ in Colombo, a sub-centre in Hambantota & unmanned installations at Galle, Arugambay, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Kallarawa, Point Pedro & Mollikulam, said the President's Media Division.

The Indian EAM said, that reaffirming India's Neighbourhood First Policy, the visit underlines India's continued commitment to Sri Lanka as its closest maritime neighbour and time tested friend. The visit will add momentum to connectivity projects and other mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors.