India To Work with Any Sri Lankan Government - HC

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Santosh Jha, the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, reaffirmed India's commitment to respecting the choices of the Sri Lankan people and maintaining strong bilateral relations, regardless of the governing bodies in either country. 

He made these comments following a meeting with the Mahanayake Thero's in Kandy.

"It is Sri Lankan people's choice and Sri Lanka will decide, and we will respect whatever the Sri Lankan people decide. So we work with the government, which is chosen by the Sri Lankan people. Our friendship is primarily with all of Sri Lanka, for all of Sri Lankan people," Jha stated.

Addressing the ambitious project of building a bridge connecting India and Sri Lanka, Jha clarified the timeline and expectations. 

"This is something that will take time. It's a long gestation period. It's a very big project. So it's not a matter of one or two years. I didn't say two years. I can't even say how long it will take. It may take five years, six years, whatever. It depends on both sides working together. It will be done purely with mutual agreement and understanding. So there is no question of this moving faster or, you know, it will go at its own speed," he explained.