(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – An official delegation from India, led by Mr. Anish Kumar, Advisor, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India (GOI) visited Colombo on 8 – 9 July 2024.
The delegation undertook various meetings with high offices in different Ministries and Departments in Sri Lanka and discussed GOI’s Prime Minister’s (PM) Gati Shakti (Power of Speed) platform, aimed at integrated infrastructure development in India- a programme that is the secret behind India’s rapid infrastructural developments in recent years. The visit was a follow up to the visit of an official delegation led by Mr. Anura Dissanayake, Secretary to Prime Minister during which the Sri Lankan delegation was briefed on PM Gati Shakti.
During the two-day visit, the Indian delegation met Hon. Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister of Ports, Shipping & Aviation, Secretary to Prime Minister, Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Highways, senior officials dealing with infrastructure projects at President’s Secretariat, and representatives of several Departments in Ministry of Finance. They also exchanged views with the Ceylon Chambers of Commerce. The incoming delegation mentioned in these interactions that GOI stands ready to share the benefits of PM Gati Shakti platform with Sri Lanka, as per the Government’s priorities and requirements.
PM Gati Shakti platform is a technology backed infrastructure development platform to ensure multi-modal, first and last mile connectivity for seamless movement of people and goods. It is based on GIS technology and facilitates data-based decision making for integrated planning, synchronized implementation, and project monitoring. PM Gati Shakti creates synergies by bringing together infrastructure Departments and Ministries in planning process, and by combining all relevant infrastructure and other assets, including natural resources related GIS-data on National Master Plan (the centralised platform) and State Master Plans (individual portals of States and Union Territories), respectively.
