India Offers Grant of $15 Million to Sri Lanka to Promote Buddhist Ties

India and Sri Lanka held their first virtual bilateral summit on September 26, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a grant assistance of USD 15 Million to construct Buddhist monasteries and "for the promotion of Buddhist ties between the two countries." The meeting that lasted for an hour was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and other government officials. In the meeting, the two countries reviewed the bilateral ties and discussed cultural links, infrastructure and defence. The fishermen related issues and the COVID-19 pandemic were also deliberated. The statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs read that PM Modi hoped relaxations in temporary restrictions by Sri Lanka on the imports of few products.