India, Sri Lanka ink agreement on cooperation in nuclear energy, agriculture

New Delhi 6 February 2015 ( Agency)India and Sri Lanka on Monday signed an agreement on cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
This agreement would facilitate cooperation in the transfer and exchange of knowledge and expertise, sharing of resources, capacity building and training of personnel in peaceful uses of nuclear energy including use of radioisotopes, nuclear safety, radiation safety, nuclear security, radioactive waste management and nuclear and radiological disaster mitigation and environmental protection.The agreement was signed by Ratan Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy; and Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Power and Energy, Sri Lanka. The two sides also signed Work-Plan 2014-2015 under the MoU on cooperation in the field of agriculture.This agreement would facilitate bilateral cooperation in agro processing, agricultural extension, horticulture, agricultural machinery, training



in farm mechanization, livestock diseases, etc. between relevant institutes and organizations from both countries.The agreement was signed by Ashish Bahuguna, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation; and Sudharshan Seneviratne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka.The agreements were signed after the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena.On his maiden foreign trip after assuming office, Sirisena, who arrived in Delhi on Sunday on a four-day visit, also held comprehensive discussions with the Prime Minister on ways to enhance economic ties.President Sirisena and I had excellent discussions today on our bilateral relations and international issues," PM Narendra Modi said."We discussed expansion of cooperation in energy sector both conventional and renewable. The bilateral agreement on civil nuclear cooperation is yet another demonstration of our mutual trust."