Newsletter - September 2020

Economic

Focus Issues	High Impact News
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the platform for “Transparent Taxation - Honouring the Honest” Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched a platform for 'Transparent Taxation - Honoring the Honest' via video conference on August 13, 2020 to strengthen efforts for reforming and simplifying the tax system. He unveiled the next phase of direct tax reforms aimed at easing compliance and rewarding honest taxpayers.	Telephone conversation between Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke to Prime Minister of Sri Lanka H.E. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and congratulated him on the successful conduct of parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka on August 6, 2020. Further, the two leaders agreed to remain in close touch as both countries address the challenges...
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launches a Submarine Cable connecting to Andaman & Nicobar Islands (ANI) Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on August 10, 2020, launched a 2300 km submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) connecting Andaman & Nicobar Islands to the mainland..	External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S Jaishankar called Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S Jaishankar had a telephone conversation with Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, to congratulate him on his reappointment as Minister of Foreign Relations of Sri Lanka.
PM Modi discusses ways to boost toy manufacturing in India In a bid to boost the manufacturing of local toys, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held a meeting with senior ministers and officials on August 22, 2020, and discussed ways to increase the global imprint of Indian toys.	High Commissioner of India called on Prime Minister of Sri Lanka The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka H.E.Gopal Baglay called on the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka H.E. Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa to congratulate him on the emphatic victory of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna...
Finance Ministry and UNDP launched Sustainable Finance Collaborative to promote sustainable finance The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India launched the Sustainable Finance Collaborative (SFC) on August 26, 2020. The objective behind the collaboration is to work together to boost the country’s efforts on mobilizing sustainable and green finance. Before COVID-19 pandemic, it was estimated that India needs over USD 2.6 trillion...	High Commissioner of India calls on Speaker of Parliament The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka H.E.Gopal Baglay called on the Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on August 27, 2020, and congratulated him on assuming the high office and on the safe and successful conduct of the general elections.In the cordial discussions, the High Commissioner emphasized the high priority accorded by India to strengthen the ties between the two countries.
Indian Products deserve fair access to other countries on a reciprocal basis On August 10, 2020, Commerce and Industry Minister of India Shri Piyush Goyal inaugurated the first edition of five-day long ‘India Virtual FMCG Supply Chain’ Expo 2020 event organised by FICCI and stated that India wants equal, fair and reciprocal trade with the world.	Construction of 144 Transit Housing Units in Mannar under 300 million LKR Grant from India India’s flagship housing project envisaging the construction of 50,000 houses in Sri Lanka at an overall outlay of Rs. 33 billion on a full grant basis is almost complete. The contract for construction of transit housing units in Mannar was awarded...
Government of India and AIIB ink pact for $500 million loan to improve network capacity of Mumbai suburban rail The Central Government, the State Government of Maharashtra, Mumbai Railway Vikas Corp. Ltd. and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) signed a $500 million loan agreement to improve the network capacity, service quality and safety...	Online Business Promotion Event between India and Sri Lanka The High Commission of India facilitated an online business promotion event on August 21, 2020, aimed at boosting bilateral economic engagement. The online event featured presentations on the products offered by BEML Ltd., India, followed by an interaction between the participants.
14 States finalise action plan for Agri Export Policy Ministry of Commerce stated that APEDA has inked MoUs with AFC India, NCUI to utilize their expertise in promoting agriculture. As many as 14 States, including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu and Assam, have finalized the State-specific action plan for Agriculture Export Policy (AEP), while the remaining States are at different stages of finalization of their respective plans.	Project Steering Committee for Construction of Surgical Unit to Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa The Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting for Construction of Surgical Unit to Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa, chaired by Shri Vinod K. Jacob, Deputy High Commissioner was held on August 19, 2020. It reviewed the progress of implementation of the LKR 262 million Project which is being implemented as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP)...
PM Modi addresses seminar on Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence manufacturing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on August 27, 2020, addressed ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Defence Industry Outreach Webinar’ through video conferencing and emphasised the need of making India self-reliant in the defence sector.	Construction of Buildings for Faculty of Kandyan dancing at Pallekele, Kandy through Indian Grant The Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting for Construction of Buildings for Faculty of Kandyan dancing at Pallekele worth LKR 145 million, co-chaired by Shri Vinod K. Jacob, Deputy High Commissioner and Prof. Kapila Gunawardena, Secretary, Ministry...
Vice President calls for the nurturing of entrepreneurial talent among the youth Vice President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu called for the nurturing of entrepreneurial talent among the youth of the nation to make India ‘Atmanirbhar’ in the time to come. He addressed a Webinar on Acharya Vinoba Bhave’s contribution to the dissemination of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy for social uplift and Bhoodan Movement.	174 Indian Nationals repatriated from Sri Lanka on a special flight 174 Indian nationals had been repatriated from Sri Lanka on a special Air India flight AI 0282 from Colombo to Delhi on August 25, 2020. The flight was scheduled as part of ‘Vande Bharat Mission’, a Government of India initiative to undertake the largest ever repatriation from all over the world for the return of Indian nationals stranded abroad due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi congratulated cities which have secured top positions in Swachh Survekshan-2020 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on August 20, 2020, congratulated the winners of Swachh Survekshan survey 2020 and lauded the competitive spirit that strengthens India’s cleanliness programme – Swachh Bharat Mission.	Webinar on COVID-19 Management Between Indian Army and Sri Lanka Army A virtual experts level interaction was organized between the Indian Army and Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps on August 27, 2020. The Webinar aimed to discuss Standard Operating Procedures, best practices and issues concerning COVID-19 management by both...
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched Rs 1 lakh crore financing facility under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on August 9, 2020, launched a financing facility of Rs 1 lakh crore under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund via video conferencing. Prime Minister also released the sixth instalment of funds of Rs 17,000 crore to 8.5 crore farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme.	e-ITEC Webinar on ‘Policing During Pandemic Times’: Enhancing India-Sri Lanka Cooperation in Capacity Building In continuation of e-ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) webinars conducted by the Ministry of External Affairs, India for ITEC partner countries, a webinar on “Policing During Pandemic Times” was organized by Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), New Delhi on August 10-11, 2020.
PM delivers inaugural address at the Higher Education Conclave On 7 August 2020, Prime Minister Shri NarendraModi delivered the inaugural address at the ‘Conclave on Transformational Reforms in Higher Education under National Education Policy’ through video conference. Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister mentioned that the National Education Policy was approved after extensive deliberations over 3-4 years ...	74th Independence Day of India Celebrated The High Commission of India and the Indian expatriate community in Sri Lanka celebrated the 74thIndependence Day of India on August 15, 2020, at India House in Colombo. At a flag hoisting ceremony, the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka H.E.GopalBaglay unfurled the National Flag and inspected a Guard of Honor presented by the BSF contingent.