<p>Colombo: Former president <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/ranil-wickremesinghe">Ranil Wickremesinghe</a> on Tuesday hailed the joint statement issued by India and Sri Lanka during the island's President <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/anura-kumara-dissanayake">Anura Kumara Dissanayake</a>'s visit to India, saying it will further deepen bilateral cooperation.</p>.<p>India and Sri Lanka issued the joint statement after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Dissanayake held comprehensive and fruitful discussions in New Delhi on Monday.</p>.<p>In a statement here, Wickremesinghe welcomed the development, saying it further deepens Indo-Lanka cooperation.</p>.<p>"I also commend President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for going ahead with the economic and technical cooperation agreement (ETCA) and the development of Trincomalee as a regional energy and industrial hub," he said.</p>.Sri Lanka to save over Rs 1,000 million annually by slashing security of former presidents.<p>Dissanayake visited Delhi as his first visit overseas since being elected president in mid-September. His Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has historically adopted an anti-Indian stance, always questioning the Indian involvement in Sri Lanka.</p>.<p>Wickremesinghe pioneered the ETCA with India amidst opposition from the JVP.</p>.<p>The joint statement said the two countries agreed to energy connectivity, the establishment of a high-capacity power grid interconnection and a multi-product pipeline for the supply of affordable and reliable energy.</p>.<p>They also agreed to explore the possibility of concluding a framework Agreement on Defence Cooperation.</p>
<p>Colombo: Former president <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/ranil-wickremesinghe">Ranil Wickremesinghe</a> on Tuesday hailed the joint statement issued by India and Sri Lanka during the island's President <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/anura-kumara-dissanayake">Anura Kumara Dissanayake</a>'s visit to India, saying it will further deepen bilateral cooperation.</p>.<p>India and Sri Lanka issued the joint statement after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Dissanayake held comprehensive and fruitful discussions in New Delhi on Monday.</p>.<p>In a statement here, Wickremesinghe welcomed the development, saying it further deepens Indo-Lanka cooperation.</p>.<p>"I also commend President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for going ahead with the economic and technical cooperation agreement (ETCA) and the development of Trincomalee as a regional energy and industrial hub," he said.</p>.Sri Lanka to save over Rs 1,000 million annually by slashing security of former presidents.<p>Dissanayake visited Delhi as his first visit overseas since being elected president in mid-September. His Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has historically adopted an anti-Indian stance, always questioning the Indian involvement in Sri Lanka.</p>.<p>Wickremesinghe pioneered the ETCA with India amidst opposition from the JVP.</p>.<p>The joint statement said the two countries agreed to energy connectivity, the establishment of a high-capacity power grid interconnection and a multi-product pipeline for the supply of affordable and reliable energy.</p>.<p>They also agreed to explore the possibility of concluding a framework Agreement on Defence Cooperation.</p>