PM Modi discusses coronavirus situation with Lankan Prez, Mauritius PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke on phone with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and assured him that India would continue to provide all possible support to the neighbouring nation to mitigate the economic impact of the lockdown enforced to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Modi also spoke to the leader of another Indian Ocean nation – Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius – on Saturday and assured him that India was “duty-bound” to support its friends to come out of the COVID-19 crisis.

Prime Minister and Sri Lankan President discussed the pandemic and its likely health and economic impacts in the South Asia and Indian Ocean region.

Rajapaksa conveyed Modi on the steps being taken by the Sri Lankan Government to restart economic activity. They agreed on the need to accelerate the development projects India was supporting in Sri Lanka. They also discussed the possibilities of promoting investments and value-addition in Sri Lanka by the private sector of India, according to a press-release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi.

Jugnauth thanked Modi for sending the Indian Naval Ship ‘Kesari’ to Mauritius as part of 'Operation Sagar', with a consignment of medicines and a 14-member medical team to help his country’s health authorities fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Modi conveyed his appreciation for the effective Covid-19 response mounted by Mauritius, which has reported no new cases of infection for several weeks. He suggested that Mauritius could document its best practices, which would be helpful for other countries, especially island countries, in dealing with similar health crises.

The two leaders discussed enhancing cooperation in various areas including measures aimed at supporting the financial sector of Mauritius, and enabling Mauritian youth to study Ayurvedic medicine.