External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe have formally commissioned the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Colombo. Funded by a USD 6 million grant from India, the MRCC aims to enhance maritime safety across the region. This ceremony marks a significant milestone in India-Sri Lanka relations, highlighting cooperation in various sectors including power, energy, connectivity, port infrastructure, aviation, digital technology, health, food security, education, and tourism. Join us as we delve into this major development and its implications for regional safety and cooperation.
#IndiaSriLanka #MaritimeSafety #MRCC #EAMJaishankar #RanilWickremesinghe #India #SriLanka #BilateralRelations #NeighbourhoodFirst #SAGAR #PMModi #MaritimeSecurity #Cooperation #ForeignRelations
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#IndiaSriLanka #MaritimeSafety #MRCC #EAMJaishankar #RanilWickremesinghe #India #SriLanka #BilateralRelations #NeighbourhoodFirst #SAGAR #PMModi #MaritimeSecurity #Cooperation #ForeignRelations
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NewsTranscript
00:00In a significant move to enhance maritime safety and cooperation, External Affairs Minister
00:20S Jaishankar and Sri Lankan President Ranil Vikramasinghe formally commissioned the Maritime
00:28Rescue Coordination Centre, also called MRCC, in Colombo on Thursday i.e. today, on 20 July.
00:38The project, funded by a US$6 million grant from India, marks a major milestone in India-Sri
00:45Lanka relations. The MRCC aims to bolster maritime safety across the region. It features
00:53a central facility at Navy Headquarters in Colombo, a sub-centre in Hambanutota, and
01:01unmanned installations in key coastal locations including Galle, Arugambe and Trincomalee.
01:09This advanced network is designed to respond swiftly to maritime emergencies, ensuring
01:15the safety of vessels and sailors in the region.
01:19During the ceremony, Minister S Jaishankar conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra
01:24Modi. He discussed various avenues for strengthening India-Sri Lanka cooperation, highlighting
01:31sectors such as power, energy, connectivity, port infrastructure, aviation, digital technology,
01:38health, food security, education, and tourism. The two leaders unveiled a virtual plaque
01:45to mark the MRCC's commissioning. They also participated in the virtual handing-over
01:51of 154 houses under the Government of India Housing Schemes, benefiting communities in
01:58Kandy, Nailia, Matale, Colombo, and Trincomalee. The collaboration underlines the significance
02:06of the Neighbourhood First and Sagar policies of India, focusing on mutual growth and security
02:13in the region. Jaishankar's visit, his first in his new
02:17term as External Affairs Minister, included meetings with other key officials too to review
02:24the progress of Indian-funded projects in Sri Lanka. They also discussed preliminary
02:31plans for an upcoming visit by Prime Minister Modi. The visit follows Jaishankar's participation
02:37in Prime Minister Modi's delegation to the G7 Outreach Summit in Italy. It marks his
02:44first stand-alone bilateral visit since assuming office for a second term on June 11. His previous
02:51visit to Colombo was in October 2023 for meetings related to the Indian Ocean Rim Association.