Neighbours must gain from India’s growth: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the gathering at Joint dedication of renovated stadium in Jaffna, Sri Lanka through video conferencing in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

India strongly believes that its economic growth must bring benefits to its neighbours, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday as he inaugurated via video-conference a stadium in Jaffna renovated by India.

While thanking India for its assistance, Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena said Lanka has always been committed to strengthening bilateral relations. Mr Modi, along with Mr Sirisena, inaugurated the Duraiappah Stadium, named in honour of a former mayor of Jaffna, the late Alfred Thambirajah Duraiappah.

The stadium, in disuse since 1997, has been renovated by the Indian government at a cost of over Rs 7 crore. Describing it as a “landmark day”, Mr Modi assured Sri Lanka that India will “walk side by side” with the country as it charts its own path to progress and prosperity for all its citizens.

“India desires to see an economically prosperous Sri Lanka. A Sri Lanka where unity and integrity, peace, harmony security and equal opportunity and dignity prevail throughout the country among all its peoples,” Mr Modi said from New Delhi.

“Our relations are not limited to the confines of our two governments, they reside in the rich contacts of our history, culture, language, art and geography. India strongly believes that its economic growth must drive and bring benefit to its neighbours,” he added. “After a wait of nearly 20 years... Even while we are sitting thousands of kilometres away in Delhi, we can feel the pulse of vibrancy, an atmosphere of change in Jaffna,” said Mr Modi.