Lanka keen on 'powerful' ties

The project, an agreement on which was signed during the visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India in June, last year, aims to meet India’s energy demands as the island nation had surplus power. Besides, India’s southern neighbour has excess capacity of wind and thermal energy.

However, only a preliminary study of the project was done. No concrete plan has been devised yet, the diplomat told reporters on Saturday. The grid will connect the ancient town of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka with an yet-to-be identified place in India.

Visas online
This apart, Sri Lanka is considering issuing visas online to visitors from India. At present, the island nation issues visa on arrival to Indian visitors, Kariyawasam said.

The diplomat said Sri Lanka hoped to more than make up for the bilateral trade lost due to 30 years of conflict in the island nation.