Which was the high point of Indian External Affairs minister S. M. Krishna’s visit to Sri Lanka in late November?
The Sri Lankan Sunday Times thought: “Reviving the Indo-Lanka Joint Commission - dormant since 2005- appears to be at the centre of [Mr.] Krishna’s visit.”
The state-run Chinese newspaper, Global Times, was sure “the high point was [the] inauguration of an Indian consulate in the southern coastal city of Hambantota” - site of the massive newly opened Chinese funded and built port.
The Times of India hedged, saying there were twin planks to Krishna’s visit and “a new consulate in Jaffna was the centrepiece of the first of these; … [the] new consulate … in Hambantota, was the centerpiece of the second.”
India's External Affairs minister S. M. Krishna (r) and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao at the opening on Nov. 27 of the India Consulate in Jaffna. Photo Sunday Times. |
“This is one consulate that I have pursued since the war ended,” she told The Hindu at the opening of India’s consulate in Jaffna.
“All [Indian] officials, including [Sri Lanka desk] Joint Secretary [Thiru Moorthy] worked very hard to realise this. I am very happy.”
See Mr. Krishna's speech at the Jaffna opening event here.