Breaking a 28-year-long hiatus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday embarked on an important visit to Sri Lanka with the message that India favoured a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity for Tamils in its "new journey" of peace and reconciliation.
The first prime minister to visit the island after Rajiv Gandhi's trip in 1987 after which the bilateral relationship had undergone several twists and turns while cash-rich China made its push, Modi met President Maithripala Sirisena and expressed his "admiration" for his efforts to build an inclusive future for Sri Lanka.
However, he made it clear that "unity and integrity" of Sri Lanka, which fought a three decades war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam over its demand for a separate Tamil Eelam, "are paramount" for India.
"It is rooted in our interest. It stems from our own fundamental beliefs in this principle," he declared in his address to Sri Lankan Parliament.
The two leaders met at delegation level after which four agreements that included easing of visa regulations were signed.
Reflecting their desire to give a push to their economic ties, the two countries also took steps to simplify trade and reduce non-tariff barriers on both sides under an agreement on customs cooperation.
At a joint press meet later, the Prime Minister himself referred to the significance of the visit, saying it "helps us understand each other better, finds solution to mutual concerns and move our relationship forward."
On his part, President Sirisena said, "We have seen the weakening of links between the two countries at different times of rule (in both countries). This is the reason why it took 28 years for an Indian PM to visit Sri Lanka."
Voicing India's support to efforts to build a future that accommodates the aspirations of all societies including Tamils for a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity in a united Lanka, the Prime Minister said, "We believe that early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and going beyond it would contribute to this process."
Modi, who had discussed the fishermen's issue - a major irritant in bilateral ties - with Sirisena, said this complex question involves livelihood and humanitarian concerns on both sides.
"This complex issue involves livelihood and humanitarian concerns on both sides. We should handle it from this perspective. At the same time, we need to find a long term solution to this issue," he said in remarks that assume significance following Premier Ranil Wikcremasinghe's controversial statement last week that intruding Indian fishermen would be shot by Sri Lankan Navy.
India has already conveyed its displeasure over the remarks when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Colombo last week.
Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks with the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena in Colombo. Photos: PIB
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