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India Offers Advanced Defence Gear to Lanka

Indian High Commissioner said that India’s defence exports stand at nearly 2.6 billion US Dollars a year…reports Asian Lite News

Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Santosh Jha on Wednesday said that India is prepared to share the advanced defence equipment with Sri Lanka.

“We are not only producing our national requirements but we are also willing to make these capabilities available to our friendly partner countries like Sri Lanka,” the High Commissioner said.

He said that India’s defence exports stand at nearly 2.6 billion US Dollars a year.

He said that following the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat or ‘self-reliant India’, there is a significant capability development within the Indian defence industry.

“Our government has promoted this vision through enabling policies and frameworks, initiatives such as the establishment of defence industry corridors, and supporting and handholding different stakeholders,” the High Commissioner said adding that the defence industry has been promoted to collaborations between private and government-owned enterprises.

He said that India has invested in research and development and promoted the use of innovation and new-age technologies to build the capabilities that are future-ready.

He said that the Indian defence industry today rolls out state-of-the-art systems, advanced technologies and world-class equipment which ranges from fighter aircraft and helicopters to naval vessels, from electronic warfare systems to cyber security solutions and from small arms to large-calibre precision long-range artillery systems.

The High Commissioner said that over the last five-year there has been a ten-fold increase in defence exports. “India has exported defence hardware and software to more than 85 countries while more than 100 indigenous firms are active in the field,” he said.

The Envoy also explained the support extended to Sri Lanka, during the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis.

“We are driven by the sense of responsibility and obligation for closest friend and neighbour. We stood shoulder-to-shoulder with our civilisational twins when it was needed most, and without any hesitation,” he said.

The High Commissioner reiterated that India’s approach to Sri Lanka was guided by the neighborhood-first policy and SAGAR vision.

“For us, as close and proximate neighbours, cooperation is the only option. It is not driven by choice and opportunity alone,” he added.

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Lanka Welcomes Indian Coast Guard for Joint Training

During the stay, the ships will undertake training for Sri Lanka Coast Guard on VBSS…reports Asian Lite News

Indian Coast Guard ships Samarth, an Offshore Patrol Vessel and Abhinav, Fast Patrol Vessel, arrived at Southern port city of Galle for training and professional interaction, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said.

“The ships will visit Colombo from March 2 to 5 before departing the Island nation. The Commanding Officers of the Indian Coast Guard Ships, Deputy Inspector General P Pradeep Kumar and Commandant (JG) Prabhat Kumar will be calling on Director General Sri Lanka Coast Guard and other senior officers,” the Indian High Commission said.

During the stay, the ships will undertake training for Sri Lanka Coast Guard on VBSS, Fire Fighting and Damage Control, Maritime Pollution Response and hold few other professional interactions.

Other activities such as yoga, beach cleaning and walkathon will also be held during the visit.

Additionally Passage Exercise (PASSEX) is to be conducted with Sri Lanka Coast Guard Ship, on departure, off Galle and Colombo.

The ships will be open for visit by school children. The ships would host a reception onboard for guests from Sri Lanka including senior officials from defence hierarchy and civil administration.

“The visit of these Indian Coast Guard Ships will significantly aid in augmenting capabilities of Sri Lanka Coast Guard and personnel in order to efficiently address maritime security challenges in the region,” the High Commission said.

Indian Naval Ships and Submarines Kora, Kabra and Karanj had visited Colombo in past few months. Visits by Indian Navy and Coast Guard vessels to Sri Lanka aim to enhance camaraderie and interoperability between the two friendly neighbouring Navies, which is in keeping with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine and ‘Neighbourhood First’.

ALSO READ: India’s Housing Initiative Empowers Lankan Plantation Workers

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India’s Housing Initiative Empowers Lankan Plantation Workers

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday virtually launched the project along with Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha….reports Asian Lite News

India has launched the construction of houses for the Indian origin plantation workers across six different provinces in Sri Lanka.

The construction will be carried out under the Indian Housing Project (IHP) and around 1,300 houses will be built for 10, 000 for Indian origin plantation workers.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday virtually launched the project along with Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha.

In May 2017, during his visit to the plantation regions of Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced Phase IV of IHP.

Along President Wickremesinghe on November 2, 2023 the foundation stone for the project was laid by Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her visit to India’s southern neighbour.

“Government of India’s total commitment under the flagship IHP currently stands at 60,000 houses. In the first two phases, 46,000 houses were covered in Northern and Eastern Provinces,” Indian High Commission in Colombo said.

It said that under Phase-III at least 4000 houses being built for plantation workers are at the verge of completion.

Indian origin Tamil community and plantation regions have been of specific focus under the government of India’s development cooperation partnership with Sri Lanka.

The overall portfolio of grant projects alone stands at more than SLR 30 billion or nearly Indian rupees 8 billion.

In addition to the remaining 14,000 houses, India launched another landmark project which is the construction of a multi-specialty hospital in Dickoya in the Central upcountry.

Marking the 200 years of arrival of the Indian origin Tamil community to Sri Lanka, in July 2023, a multi-sectoral package of SLR 3 billion was also announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to India.

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Sri Lanka Faces High Electricity Production Costs

Nepal electricity exports to India surge to USD 56 million in the last 4 months(IN)

The CEB spokesman said earlier that they are generating more than 60 per cent of the electricity using thermal power…report Asian Lite News

Sri Lanka’s state-owned electricity producer and distributor, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), has urged people to use electricity sparingly as demand for power has grown due to the dry weather, a senior official told the media.

CEB spokesman Noel Priyantha told the media on Sunday that electricity demand has increased by between three and four gigawatt hours in the past month, Xinhua news agency reported.

Usually, electricity consumption increases during dry periods in Sri Lanka as people use electric fans and air conditioning to keep cool, energy experts say.

Priyantha said the percentage of electricity produced by hydropower has dropped to 21 per cent in recent days due to dry weather, and 4.5 per cent of electricity is generated from solar and five per cent from wind farms.

The CEB spokesman said earlier that they are generating more than 60 per cent of the electricity using thermal power.

The cost of generating electricity using thermal power is high and this is one of the main reasons why the cost of electricity production is among the highest in Asia, Narendra De Silva, general manager of CEB, has said

ALSO READ-Lanka Ups Tourism Efforts

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Lanka Ups Tourism Efforts

With the government’s new initiatives, there has been a significant surge in tourist arrivals…reports Asian Lite News

Sri Lanka has rolled out infrastructure development projects and innovative tourism promotion programmes in a bid to attract high-end tourists, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

The PMD said in a press statement that President Ranil Wickremesinghe conducted a tour of Tangalle and Galle areas on Saturday to assess tourism industry resurgence on the southern coast of the country, Xinhua news agency reported.

During the tour, the President visited several tourist hotels, talking with owners to understand their challenges first hand, the PMD added.

The PMD said the tourism sector in Sri Lanka faced a rapid downturn due to the Covid-19 pandemic and economic challenges.

With the government’s new initiatives, there has been a significant surge in tourist arrivals, said the PMD, adding that more than 1.4 million tourists visited Sri Lanka in 2023.

Building on this momentum, the government aims to surpass the peak of 2.5 million tourists in 2017, with plans underway to achieve this milestone by 2024, the PMD said.

ALSO READ: Lanka plans to amend controversial Online Safety Act

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Lanka plans to amend controversial Online Safety Act

The existing law holds social media companies accountable for objectionable content shared on their platforms as determined by Sri Lankan authorities….reports Asian Lite News

Sri Lanka announced plans on Tuesday to revise its stringent internet censorship law following backlash from major global tech firms, who faced potential legal repercussions for content shared on social media platforms. Information minister Bandula Gunawardana revealed that the cabinet had decided to amend the hastily passed Online Safety Law, acknowledging concerns raised by experts in the field.

The existing law holds social media companies accountable for objectionable content shared on their platforms as determined by Sri Lankan authorities. In response to opposition from an international coalition of tech companies, who deemed the legislation impractical, the government pledged to incorporate expert input into the proposed amendments.

Critics, including opposition lawmakers, condemned the law as an attempt to silence political dissent ahead of upcoming presidential elections. Social media played a pivotal role in mobilizing protests during Sri Lanka’s severe economic crisis in 2022, leading to widespread demonstrations and the resignation of then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The law imposes severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison for social media executives failing to disclose user information linked to illicit content. It also criminalizes anonymous and parody social media accounts, extending jurisdiction to users posting from abroad. Public security minister Tiran Alles previously refuted claims that the law would suppress dissent.

UPI services in Sri Lanka

 India recently launched its Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

RuPay card services were also launched in Mauritius as part of this initiative.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the inaugural event virtually alongside his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth, and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Indians visiting the two nations will be able to utilise UPI services to make payments, and Mauritians travelling to India will be able to do the same. Additionally, Mauritian banks will be able to issue RuPay cards and use them for transactions in both India and Mauritius.

The launch of the Indian services comes amid growing bilateral economic ties with Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

UPI services, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), enable immediate real-time bank transactions using mobile phones.

RuPay is an Indian-based card payment network that is widely accepted at retail locations, ATMs, and online platforms globally.

Prior to this, NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) worked with Lyra, a well-known French expert in e-commerce and proximity payments, to introduce UPI services to France.

ALSO READ: Lanka Gears Up for 2025 Election Battle

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Lanka Gears Up for 2025 Election Battle

Last week, the cabinet of ministers approved a proposal to allocate 10 billion rupees for elections to be held in 2024…reports Asian Lite News

Sri Lanka’s general election will be held in 2025 and the presidential election will be held within mandated period, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said on Tuesday.

The Election Commission is responsible for holding elections and the government will be communicating with the commission as and when required, the PMD said in a statement, Xinhua news agency reported.

Last week, the cabinet of ministers approved a proposal to allocate 10 billion rupees for elections to be held in 2024, the government’s information department said in a statement.

According to the country’s constitution, the forthcoming presidential election should be held before October 17, 2024.

ALSO READ: UPI arrival spurs tourism, economic growth in Lanka, Mauritius

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UPI arrival spurs tourism, economic growth in Lanka, Mauritius

Prabhu Ram, Head, Industry Intelligence Group at CMR, told that UPI’s debut in Sri Lanka and Mauritius marks a series of ongoing pivotal steps in making digital payments more pervasive globally…reports Asian Lite News

The launch of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a significant step in establishing India’s global leadership in fintech and payments innovation, the industry said on Monday.

PM Modi, along with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, inaugurated the launch of UPI, and also RuPay card services in Mauritius, via video conferencing.

“UPI has truly revolutionised the way we pay every day in India. With this expansion, UPI will bring convenience and digital growth to these countries and open new opportunities for cross-border commerce and travel,” Upasana Taku, Co-founder and CFO, MobiKwik, told IANS.

PM Modi underlined that fintech connectivity will further strengthen cross-border transactions and connections.

“India’s UPI comes in a new role today — Uniting Partners with India,” he emphasised.

Prabhu Ram, Head, Industry Intelligence Group at CMR, told that UPI’s debut in Sri Lanka and Mauritius marks a series of ongoing pivotal steps in making digital payments more pervasive globally.

“UPI will facilitate commerce, foster great economic integration, boost cross-border travel, and simplify tourist experiences for Indian tourists,” he said.

Speaking about the convenience and speed of UPI transactions, PM Modi informed that more than 100 billion transactions took place via UPI last year, worth Rs 2 lakh crores or 8 trillion Sri Lankan rupees or 1 trillion Mauritius rupees.

The extension of RuPay card services in Mauritius will also enable Mauritian banks to issue cards based on RuPay mechanism in the country and facilitate usage of RuPay Card for settlements in India and Mauritius.

UPI has facilitated over 40 per cent of India’s digital transactions, highlighting the country’s potential for embracing fintech innovations. The rapid expansion of fintech in India has created a significant need for skilled professionals, particularly in IT, engineering and sales.

“Over 60 per cent of fintech firms seek proficient personnel to navigate this dynamic landscape. To meet these demands, apprenticeship programmes are vital in nurturing talent and bridging the skills gap,” said Dhriti Prasanna Mahanta, Vice President & Business Head, TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship.

ALSO READ-Modi, Wickremesinghe, Jugnauth to launch UPI services in Lanka, Mauritius

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Modi, Wickremesinghe, Jugnauth to launch UPI services in Lanka, Mauritius

The launch will enable the availability of UPI settlement services for Indian nationals travelling to Sri Lanka and Mauritius…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth will witness the launch of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius, as well as, RuPay card services in Mauritius, on Monday 1 pm via video conferencing, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

India has emerged as a leader in fintech innovation and digital public infrastructure. PM Modi has placed a strong emphasis on sharing our development experiences and innovation with partner countries.

Given India’s robust cultural and people-to-people linkages with Sri Lanka and Mauritius, the launch will benefit a wide cross-section of people through a faster and seamless digital transaction experience and enhance digital connectivity between the countries, the MEA release also said.

The launch will enable the availability of UPI settlement services for Indian nationals travelling to Sri Lanka and Mauritius, as well as, for Mauritian nationals travelling to India.

The extension of RuPay card services in Mauritius will enable Mauritian banks to issue cards based on the RuPay mechanism in Mauritius and facilitate the usage of RuPay cards for settlements both in India and Mauritius, it added.

Notably, during Wickremesinghe’s New Delhi visit in July 2023, India and Sri Lanka inked an agreement of UPI’s acceptance in the island country.

Earlier that year, in February, PhonePe, Indian digital payments and financial technology company, launched support for cross-border UPI payments, under UPI International, allowing the apps’ users to use their Indian bank accounts to pay at merchant outlets in the UAE, Singapore, Mauritius, Nepal and Bhutan, The Bhutan Live reported.

With this, PhonePe became the first in its category to integrate UPI International. UPI International, introduced by the cross-border arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI International Payments Limited), facilitates UPI transactions for the Indian diaspora abroad.

Rahul Chari, CTO and co-founder of PhonePe, as quoted by The Bhutan Live, said, “UPI International is the first major step in letting the rest of the world experience UPI too. I am sure this launch will prove to be a game-changer and will completely transform the way Indians travelling overseas pay at merchant outlets abroad.”

PhonePe is India’s largest UPI app by market size. The app raised USD 350 million in funding as part of its USD 1 billion fundraising ahead of an initial public offering (IPO).

The UPI payment system has become hugely popular for retail digital payments in India, and its adoption is increasing at a rapid pace. It is India’s mobile-based fast payment system, which facilitates customers to make round-the-clock payments instantly using a virtual payment address (VPA) created by the customer. (ANI)

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IIT’s third offshore campus likely to be set up in Lanka

The institute had last year announced the setting up of an offshore campus in Tanzania’s Zanzibar with Preeti Aghalyam being appointed the director-in-charge who also became the first woman IIT Director…reports Asian Lite News

The third offshore campus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is likely to be set up in Sri Lanka, according to sources.

The proposal for an IIT in Sri Lanka was announced last November in the 2024 Budget unveiled by Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who also serves as the finance minister.

According to sources, the Sri Lankan government is in touch with IIT Madras for the ambitious project. “A high-level delegation had recently visited the Chennai campus to discuss the future roadmap. The talks are on and the campus is likely to come up in Kandy,” a source said.

“The delegation also visited the Research Park at the campus and interacted with officials about possible areas of engagement,” the source added.

The Indian government had announced that opportunities for admission to the IITs in India will be provided to meritorious Sri Lankan students from the 2017-18 academic sessions onwards. If the plan for the Sri Lanka campus comes through, it will be IIT Madras’ second international campus.

The institute had last year announced the setting up of an offshore campus in Tanzania’s Zanzibar with Preeti Aghalyam being appointed the director-in-charge who also became the first woman IIT Director.

An MoU, signed last July between India and Tanzania, was the final procedural step that paved the way for the opening of the campus. The institute began functioning in November last year from a temporary campus and is offering two full-time academic programmes — a four-year Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and a two-year Master of Technology in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

IIT Delhi followed the league and signed a formal agreement with the UAE government to set up a campus in Abu Dhabi. The initial Master’s course at the IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus will focus on energy transition and sustainability, reflecting a shared vision between India and the UAE to leverage knowledge for mutual prosperity and global well-being.

The UK is also keen on welcoming an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) to set up an offshore campus in the country and some UK universities are already in talks with IITs to explore the possibility. Several IITs have been receiving requests from the Middle East and South Asian countries to set up their campuses.

The central government had created a 17-member committee to facilitate the process of opening IIT campuses in foreign locations where students from different nations can study technical education.

The committee headed by IIT Council standing committee chairperson Dr K Radhakrishnan had submitted its recommendations in 2022.

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