Sri Lankan Minister: BIMSTEC is an alternative of SAARC

On the occasion of PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony, Sri Lankan Minister for National Integration Mano Ganesan talked about India-Sri Lanka relations and said that SAARC became a victim of the unfortunate relationship between India and Pakistan. Hence, an alternative arrangement (BIMSTEC) was introduced.

New Delhi: Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's landslide victory in the recently concluded polls, Sri Lankan Minister for National Integration Mano Ganesan claimed that BIMSTEC was an alternative of SAARC.

The Sri Lankan Minister said, "We have been trusting and dreaming about SAARC for a long time. SAARC has become a victim of the unfortunate relationship between India and Pakistan. Therefore, we had to seek an alternative arrangement and this is it."

Lauding long-standing India-Sri Lanka friendship, Sri Lankan minister Mano Ganesan further added saying, "Both Sri Lanka and India have been good friends, good brothers and members of the same family. We are connected traditionally, culturally, politically, economically and socially. And, we are continuing it. As PM Modi has come back the second time with a thumping majority. We are happy about it. So, we are here to share our happiness."

Both India and Sri Lanka have been the victims of terrorism in the recent past. When asked how both countries can work together to resolve it, the Sri Lankan admitted saying that his government failed to act on the input provided by India but now it has rounded up every ISIS terrorist and everything is under control.