The 27th meeting of the Board of Directors of the India Sri Lanka Foundation (ISLF) was held in New Delhi on the 25th August, 2011. The session was Co-Chaired by the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in India, H.E. Prasad Kariyawasam and the High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka, H. E. Ashok K. Kantha. Board members of the Foundation, Ambassador M. Rasgotra, Prof. P. V. Indiresan, Mr. Sunimal Fernando and Mr. Thirukumar Nadesan were also present.

The Board of Directors of ISLF meets bi-annually in order to consider project proposals received by the Delhi and Colombo Secretariats, which will assist to enhance bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka in the thrust areas of Education, including short-term teaching/technical training assignments for faculty members, Art & Culture, Archaeological Studies, Agricultural Research, Science & Technology, Information Technology, Health, including short-term teaching/technical training assignments, Development Studies and Gender Studies.

At the Commencement of the 27th meeting, both the Co- Chairs paid tribute to the late Mr. Romesh Jayasinghe, Former Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka and former High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in India and observed a minute’s silence in memory of the departed soul. The Board also decided to send a condolence letter to the family of Mr. Jaysinghe. During his tenure as High Commissioner in India, Mr. Jayasinghe had also served as the Co- Chair of ISLF and had provided his valuable guidance and advice to ISLF at all times.

At the meeting, a number of proposals were approved by the Board of Directors such as the visit of 16 students from University of Colombo to participate in the South Asian Students Economic Summit (SASEM) being held in India, visit of 5 doctors from Colombo Municipal Council to Ayurvedic Institutes in Kerala, support to Sri Lankan delegates to participate in the South Asian Film Festival (SAFF) in Goa, visit of a cultural troupe from Sri Lanka to India and vice- versa, technical projects with support from University of Ruhuna and National Institute of Technology, Calicut, etc. The Board also gave suggestions to further improve future activities of the Foundation.

The India - Sri Lanka Foundation was established by a Memorandum of Understanding between the governments of India and Sri Lanka in 1998 in order to foster India - Sri Lanka relations through the enhancement of economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation and to promote greater understanding between the people of the two countries. ISLF through its regular activities and programmes acts as a catalyst in enhancing bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka.

Co-chairs High Commissioner Ashok Kanth and High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam with members of the Board of Directors of the India Sri Lanka Foundation at the 27th meeting held in New Delhi on 25th August