India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka called for India – Sri Lanka relations to “look towards the future”, as he addressed an Independence Day ceremony in Colombo this week.
High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka H.E. Taranjit Singh Sandhu was the chief guest at the event, where he highlighted that India was the 6th largest and fastest growing major economy in the world.
“Sri Lanka’s location in the proximity of fastest growing economy could bring in substantial advantages,” he said, according to an Indian government press release.
“Sri Lankan youth could fulfill their aspirations and make them a part of India’s growth story,” he added.
His comments come as India and Sri Lanka held the tenth round of talks for widening the scope of the existing free trade agreement between the two countries. A free trade agreement in goods has been in existence since March 2000, but talks are ongoing to widen the scope to include services and investments.
Last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for closer ties, as he addressed an event in Jaffna via video conference.