EAM Jaishankar holds talks with Sri Lanka's Foreign Affairs Minister

Today External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held extensive talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart GL Peiris who is on a three-day official visit to New Delhi. The talks covered nearly all aspects of the bilateral relationship between India and Sri Lanka.

The talks come days after India extending $500 million credit line to Sri Lanka. India extended the credit line to help the island nation purchase petroleum. Sri Lanka is facing a severe foreign exchange and energy crisis.

India's extension of $500 million credit line to Sri Lanka came two weeks after a virtual meeting between Jaishankar and Sri Lanka's Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa on January 15.

'Very pleased to welcome FM G.L. Peiris of Sri Lanka. Looking forward to our talks this morning,' Jaishankar tweeted.

Last month, Sri Lanka signed a deal with the Sri Lankan chapter of Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC), Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and the Joint Venture between LIOC and CPC to redevelop around 75 oil tanks in Trincomalee.

The deal will assist Sri Lanka in the development of Trincomalee as an energy and transport hub to further bolster its energy security.

The issue of equal treatment for the Tamil people within a united Sri Lanka will also be raised.

(With inputs from PTI)