New Delhi : A high-level delegation from the Kalinga International Foundation (KIF) visited Sri Lanka from 28-31 October for an India-Sri Lanka Dialogue. The eminent members of  delegation led by   Amb. Lalit Mansingh, Chairman, KIF are  Admiral Arun Prakash, former Chief of the Indian Navy,  Prof. S.D. Muni, Professor Emeritus, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, Mr Rajeev Kher, former Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, New Delhi,  Mr Saurabh Chandra, former Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum& Natural Gas (MPNG), New Delhi,  Amb. Anup Mudgal, former High Commissioner to Mauritius and Dr (Ms) SamathaMallempati, Research Fellow, Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi.

A full day Round Table on India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations, was held on 29 October 2018 with counterparts from the Pathfinder Foundation, a leading Think Tank of Sri Lanka. In the following days, the delegation called on a number of Sri Lanka dignitaries, including the new Foreign Minister, Mr Sarath Amunugama, the Leader of Opposition and leader of the Tanil National Alliance (TNA), Mr Sampanthan, former Defence Secretary Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa and former Minister, Mr Milinda Moragoda.

The delegation also had detailed discussions with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary, Amb Prasad Karyawasam and with experts from the leading think tanks, including the Lakshman Kadigram Institute ((LKI); the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) and the Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI).

It is of special interest that,  at the Round Table on 29 October, which was on India-Sri Lanka Relations, the keynote address by Prof JB Disanayake was on “Historical and Cultural Links between Odisha and Sri Lanka”.  Mr Mansingh  also took care to underline the Odisha connection at every meeting with Sri Lankan dignitaries and experts.  Original Odisha Pattachitra paintings on Buddhist themes were presented to all the dignitaries, which was well appreciated.  The new SL Foreign Minister, Mr Sarath Amanugama showed particular interest in the Buddhist connection with Odisha and was keen to promote religious tourism. He encouraged KIF to organize a meeting of experts from both sides in the near future.