Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday pitched for full implementation of a constitutional provision by the new Sri Lankan government to ensure devolution of powers to the minority Tamil community.

During a virtual summit involving Modi and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Indian leader announced a $15 million grant to the island nation for promotion of bilateral Buddhist ties.

The two sides also deliberated on ways to further boost maritime security cooperation, strengthen trade and investment ties and implement the East Container Terminal (ECT) project at Colombo port involving India and Japan.

On the Tamil minorities, Modi emphasised that implementation of the 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution was essential for carrying forward the process of peace and reconciliation, joint secretary in the external affairs ministry, Amit Narang, said at a media briefing.

“Prime Minister Modi called on the new government in Sri Lanka to work towards realising the expectations of Tamils for equality, justice, peace and dignity within a united Sri Lanka by achieving reconciliation nurtured by implementation of the constitutional provisions,” Narang said.

The 13th amendment provides for the devolution of power to the Tamil community. India has been urging Sri Lanka to implement the amendment, which had been introduced after the India-Sri Lanka agreement in 1987.

India raised the ECT project that had been put on hold by the Sri Lankan government. “Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence that the new government will take early and decisive steps for implementation of these projects,” Narang said.