10 Dec, 2012, 03.07PM IST, PTI
NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka has not
evinced interest in investing in the Indian port sector, Parliament was informed
today.
"The government of Sri Lanka has not approached the (Indian) government indicating interest in investing in Port Projects in India," Shipping Minister G K Vasan said in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
He said that the government allows 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment ( FDI) for construction and maintenance of ports and harbours.
"The government has been encouraging private sector participation in port development since 1996 mainly on Build, Operate and Transfer basis with revenue sharing mechanism to augment and upgrade the capacity at Indian Ports," Vasan added.
Meanwhile, India has gifted 175 boats with outboard motors and fishing equipment worth 71 million Sri Lankan rupees to people in Mannar, the country's former war zone.
Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Ashok K Kantha had visited Mannar earlier this month in this connection.
The Indian envoy had expressed hope that the ferry service between Talaimannar and Rameswaram would be resumed soon and that the Indian government was in favour of early resumption of the ferry service and prepared to work with the government of Sri Lanka in this regard.
