New Delhi/ Colombo: India on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sri Lanka to establish a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) with a grant of $6 million from New Delhi. The MoU, along with other agreements, were inked on the first day of Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's visit to Sri Lanka.
The MoUs were signed during Jaishankar's meeting with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya, Prime Minister Mahinda and Finance Minister Basil, as well as and Foreign Minister GL Peiris.
Built by the Indian government-owned aerospace and defence electronics company, Bharath Electronics, India will provide Sri Lanka with three Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft and a 4,000 MT floating barge for its Navy.
According to reports, the MRCC will be built inside the Sri Lanka Navy headquarters and seven other sub-units are to be positioned around the country, including one in the Southern city of Hambantota, where the China-run harbour is located.
It is noteworthy that in the year 2017-18, China had assured Sri Lanka of help in developing such a centre. However, the plan could not materialise due to opposition from several Sri Lankan parties. India, too, was also concerned about the creation of such a center under the leadership of China.
Around 2,000 ships pass through the Sri Lankan coast on a daily basis. Along with this, the movement of cruise ships has also started increasing in view of the relaxation in Covid-19 curbs and increase in tourism.
In such a situation, while the needs and activism of the existing MRCC of the Sri Lankan Navy have increased, the difficulties have also increased due to economic pressure. In the pre-Corona situation, the MRCC had to act on about 283 aid messages in 2019, mostly from merchant ships or fishing trawlers.
Other MoUs
Among the other MoUs signed between the two nations were for the development of fisheries harbours in Sri Lanka - a project to establish modern computer labs and smart boards with customised curriculum software in 200 schools in Galle district and one between Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service and the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute.
An MoU was also signed in the presence of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to give a $15 million for the maintenance of important Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa thanked India for recent economic assistance amounting to around $2.5 billion extended to Sri Lanka which is said to be on the brink of bankruptcy after facing the worst economic crisis in its history.
Jaishankar has also assured New Delhi's continued support in Colombo's economic recovery process, the Indian High Commission in the island nation announced.
EAM Jaishankar, along with a five-member official delegation from the Ministry of External Affairs, arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday evening after completing a two-day trip to Maldives.