Addressing the inauguration of 21st Diploma course in Diplomacy and World Affairs at Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) in Colombo yesterday he said that Indian Prime Minister Modi’s first overseas visit after being elected to the post for the second term is very significant. “This will be aprt of the first overseas trip of Prime Minister Modi after his re election .

Sandhu said the Indian Prime Minister will carry the message of solidarity and hope from people of India to the people of Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Easter Sunday attacks “India has always been a First Responder to Sri Lanka’s needs and priorities. Whether it be the flood or drought, India has been the first to respond with men and material. India has also completed several people-oriented development projects all across the island, as pure gifts from people of India,” the Indian High Commissioner further said.

India is not governed by self-interest alone, he said speaking on India’s foreign policy. “India has always believed in sharing its developmental successes.Growing together has been the basic tenet of India’s foreign policy.” As Prime Minister Modi has said, India seeks a future for Indian Ocean that lives up to the name of SAGAR- Security and Growth for All in the Region, the Indian High Commissioner stated.

Individual countries cannot remain peaceful, secure and prosperous if the region and world at large were to be in turmoil, he added. “It is a highly interconnected world today. We cannot banish other’s misery as his or her own problem; it is as much as ours as his or hers. It is in our individual and collective interest to maintain world peace and collective stability,” the Indian High Commissioner stressed.