Addressing the Head of State Session of the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit virtually, President Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed the importance of strengthening economic cooperation and regional integration from Japan to India, with a special focus on deepening ties with India.
President Wickremesinghe highlighted Sri Lanka’s strategic commitment to expanding economic partnerships across Asia, particularly through Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
Reflecting on Indo-Lanka relations, President Wickremesinghe emphasized the “Vision” statement shared between the two nations, and expressed optimism that this vision will lead to stronger integration between Sri Lanka and India across various sectors.
Praising India’s efforts to strengthen the Global South, he acknowledged that the West can no longer maintain its dominance in global leadership, and lauded the Summit as a crucial platform for fostering consensus on challenges facing developing nations.
Expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India for their support during Sri Lanka’s recent economic crisis, President Wickremesinghe acknowledged that their assistance played a vital role in helping Sri Lanka navigate challenges of the past two years and emerge from bankruptcy.