Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar met the ambassadors of Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan. In the meeting, it was agreed to strengthen election cooperation, management and training of staff. India emphasized its role as a reliable partner in the democratic development of both the countries.
New Delhi [भारत]July 28 (ANI): Chief Election Commissioner and Chairman of the Council of Member States of International IDEA Gyanesh Kumar on Monday held bilateral meetings with the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka and the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to enhance democratic cooperation and election management relations at the Election House in New Delhi.
Bilateral meeting with Sri Lanka
In his meeting with Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Mahishini Colon, both sides stressed the deep neighborly relations between the two countries. Briefing on the meeting, the Election Commission of India said, “Underscoring the deep ties between India and Sri Lanka as neighbours, both sides emphasized that shared democratic values and historical engagement provide a strong foundation for electoral cooperation.”
The ECI further said that during the discussion, “they resolved to work together to strengthen the agenda set during IICDEM 2026,” and also agreed to “further cooperate on strengthening election management and training of election staff.”
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India is Sri Lanka’s closest neighbor and relations between the two countries go back more than 2,500 years, sharing a strong civilizational and historical bond. Sri Lanka occupies a central place in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and OCEAN (Mutual and Inclusive Advancement for Security and Development for All in the Regions) vision.
India–Sri Lanka bilateral political relations are marked by regular high-level exchanges. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi (PM) has visited Sri Lanka four times since 2014. The PM’s latest visit to Sri Lanka was in April 2025, the first visit by any head of state to Sri Lanka after President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka took office in September 2024. During the visit, a total of 7 MoUs were exchanged covering various sectors like defense cooperation, health and mass communication, energy, connectivity etc.
Emphasis on cooperation with Uzbekistan
Additionally, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar met Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to India Sardor Rustambaev. Sharing details of the meeting on Ex, ECI wrote: “Building on the momentum generated at IICDEM 2026, both sides resolved to work together to advance the agenda set at the conference, thereby strengthening India’s role as a trusted partner in the democratic development of the region.”
The post further said that “both sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in election management and training of election staff.”
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between India and Uzbekistan was signed on 18 March 1992 in Tashkent. India and Uzbekistan announced their strategic partnership in 2011. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev last met briefly on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China in September 2025.
India and Uzbekistan signed a Bilateral Market Access Protocol in the context of Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO on 27 May 2026. (ANI)
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