Modi launches Indian auxiliary railway project in Sri Lanka; pays tribute at Anuradhapura Shrine
Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Anuradhapura, a historic city in north-central Sri Lanka on Sunday and launched two Indian-assisted railway projects before ending his three-day trip to the island country.
Accompanied by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Modi also visited the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Temple and paid tribute to the respected Buddhist shrine of Anuradhapura, a spiritual city, which is located about 200 km from Colombo.
After visiting the shrine, the two leaders carried out the refurbished 128km Maho-Momanthai railway line with the assistance of $91.27 million in India, and then started the construction of an advanced signaling system from Maho to Anuradhapura. The signaling system was established with the assistance of a grant of $14.89 million from India.
“These landmark railway modernization projects are implemented under the Indian-Lanka Development Partnership, which is an important milestone in strengthening the connectivity of north-south railways in Sri Lanka,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
“They will promote fast and efficient movement of passengers and freight across the country,” it said.
Modi said before leaving India that his visit to Sri Lanka reaffirmed the deep cultural, spiritual and civilized relationship between the two countries. “I am very grateful to the people and government of Sri Lankan for the extended warmth during their visit,” Modi said in a social media post.
He said: “Whether in Colombo or Anuradhapura, this visit reaffirms the profound cultural, spiritual and civilized relationship between our two countries. This will surely add momentum to our bilateral relations.” At the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Temple, the Prime Minister also seeks blessings from monks at the shrine.
Modi said in a social media post: “Praying with the President’s Dissanayake in Anuradhapura. One of the most respected ruins in Buddhism is a very humble moment.” He said: “This is a vivid symbol of peace, enlightenment and spiritual continuity. May the Buddha’s teachings always guide us.”
MEA said Modi prayed on the respected Moab tree in the temple. Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Temple has special significance in the relationship between the Indian Lanka civilization. It is believed that the sacred Bodhi tree in the temple originated from Bodhi Mountain in India. The saplings of the Bodhi tree were brought by Theri Sanghamitta, the daughter of the Indian Emperor Ashoka, and were planted in the temple area.
“The tree is believed to have grown from Sangamitta Maha Theri in India in the 3rd century BC to Bo Sapling in Sri Lanka,” Mea said.
The Prime Minister arrived in Colombo on Friday night after finishing his trip to Thailand. Modi and Dissanayake held extensive speeches on Saturday, and they later launched 10 specific results, including seven protocols to expand links across multiple departments including defense, energy and digitalization.
The National Defense Convention is considered important because it shows a rise in the Indian-Sri Lanka strategic links nearly forty years after the IPKF attack. The two sides also identified a total of seven agreements, including the development of trincomalee as an energy center under the triangular framework, also involving the United Arab Emirates, and reached another agreement on grid connectivity.
