India has said that its developmental assistance to Sri Lanka is tailored to the requirements and capacities of their partners and to ensure that they do not become another channel leading to debt trap.<br/><br/>This was stated by Union minister for Law & Justice during his memorial lecture in remembrance of Sri Lanka's former foreign minister Laxman Kadirgamar in Colombo this evening. Mr. Prasad said that India's approach has not been one of demanding privileges or rights to projects but rather a desire to contribute to Sri Lanka's development objectives as established by Lankans themselves.<br/><br/>The comment assume significance as China has funded some big investment projects in Sri Lanka which have become non viable and has squeezed country's fiscal space. Narrating India's journey from its freedom struggle to the digital era, Mr. Prasad emphasized that people of India have growing awareness in seeking accountability and abiding faith in democratic process. <br/><br/>Earlier, both countries signed four agreements for collaboration in ICT sector, setting up of e-office system and connecting of National Knowledge network (NKN) for collaboration among universities and academics.

India and Sri Lanka today signed four agreements for collaboration in ICT sector, setting up of e-office system and connecting of National Knowledge network (NKN) for collaboration among universities and academics. The MoU for cooperation was signed by Union minister for Information Technology Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad with his Sri Lankan counterpart in Colombo.<br/><br/>Mr. Prasad in his address said that the agreement is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of extending benefits of Digital connectivity to its neighbours. He said that Sri Lanka has become the first country to be connected to NKN through a Gigabyte optical fibre network. This will connect NKN to Lanka education & research network (LEARN) through which universities on both sides can share best practices and research ideas.<br/><br/>National Informatics centre (NIC) has set up a model E-office system for Sri Lanka and both projects were formally inaugurated on the occasion. Shri Prasad also called upon President Maithripala Sirisena to discuss cooperation in those areas and other issues of mutual interest. <br/><br/>He will deliver a memorial lecture in remembrance of Sri Lanka's former foreign minister Laxman Kadirgamar later in the evening.<br/><br/>