Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka, announced a direct Air India flight between the island country capital of Colombo and his constituency Varanasi. "From August this year, Air India will operate direct flight between Colombo and Varanasi, will ease travel to the land of Buddha," Modi said while delivering the celebratory address at the Bandarnaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BIMCH) on the occasion of International Vesak Day today.
"My Tamil brothers and sisters will also be able to visit Varanasi, the land of Kashi Viswanath," he said.
Modi further said the biggest challenge to sustainable world peace today is not necessarily from conflict between the nation states but arises from the mindsets, thought streams, entities and instruments rooted in the idea of hate and violence. "Menace of terrorism in our region is a clear manifestation of this destructive emotion. Sadly these ideologies of hate and their proponents in our region are not open to dialogue and hence only open to causing death,destruction," the prime minister said. "I believe that Buddhism's message of peace is the answer to growing arc of violence all over the world."
Modi, on Thursday, met his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe and discussed various issues that concern with the growing cooperation between the two countries.
However, no MoUs were signed at the meeting.
Prime Minister Modi also met President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena.
Sanjay Panda, MEA, said there were no MoUs signed between the two neighbouring nations on the opening day of Prime Minister Modi's visit and the focus of the discussions was Buddhism, promotion of tourism, and enhancing the connectivity between the two nations.
"The visit assumes importance because of our common Buddhist heritage that spans over centuries," Panda added, while briefing the media about Prime Minister Modi's itinerary over the day.
"Space cooperation also featured in the discussions and India assured Sri Lanka of her help," Panda added.
Prime Minister Modi also met former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa who had earlier accused President Sirisena of compromising the country's sovereignty and declared that black flags would be shown to the visiting Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, the prime minister delivered a celebratory address at the Bandarnaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BIMCH) on the occasion of International Vesak Day today.
The Prime Minister will then inaugurate the 15-bed Dickoya Hospital.
Prime Minister Modi will also address the Indian origin Tamil community at Norwood Grounds.
He will then meet representatives of the Ceylon Workers' Congress (TBC). Thereafter, the Prime Minister will also be holding a meeting with representatives of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TBC).
The Prime Minister will also visit the hilly regions of Sri Lanka that host tea plantations and is the first Indian PM to do so.
Meanwhile, the Congress party on Friday, while drawing upon the ongoing tussle between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu over fishermen being detained said the issues needed to 'properly handled'.
"The chronic issues of fishermen being detained by the Sri Lankan authorities, presence of Tamilians in the island and other such issues need to be properly handled. I hope the Prime Minister has been briefed well by the Ministry of External Affairs prior to his meetings with the leaders there," said Congress leader Tom Vadakkan.
He further said the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries would be determined by the nature of dialogues taking place, given China's strong influence on Sri Lanka.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (DMK) also asked Modi to ensure that the Indian-origin Tamils are treated at par with the Sinhalese of Sri Lanka and no disparities emerge between the two ethnic communities.
"I don't think this visit by the Prime Minister will do any good to the Tamils living in the island until they are treated at par with the Sri Lankan Sinhalese. Since they are also natives of Sri Lanka, there should not be any disparities between two ethnic communities. Only the prime minister can ensure that all entire citizens of Sri Lanka, including Tamils are treated at par," said DMK leader T.K.S. Elangovan.
