India Sri Lanka discuss cooperation in energy, other areas

Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for discussions on establishment of a joint information mechanism on the possibility of oil and gasfields straddling the India-Sri Lanka maritime boundary.

In a joint declaration, prime minister Manmohan Singh assured Rajapaksa that the proposal would be considered by the Indian government for further discussion between the two sides.

India and Sri Lanka also agreed to enter into dialogue on security and defence issues and step up high-level military exchanges and training of military personnel. Under the initiative fresh recruits in Sri Lankan police and security forces would undergo further training in Indian institutions.

An agreement to conduct a feasibility study for the interconnection of the Indian and Sri Lankan electricity grids was also signed. The two leaders expressed confidence over the agreement contributing significantly towards enhancement of bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.

Both sides agreed to the revival of the joint commission mechanism and hold the next meeting in the second half of 2010 so as to devise a fuller agenda of bilateral cooperation in various fields.

The leaders were briefed on the progress in discussions between the National Thermal Power Corporation of India and the Ceylon Electricity Board of Sri Lanka on the 500-MW coal-fired power plant at Sampur in Trincomalee, incorporating environmentally friendly technologies.