Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe e-flag National Emergency Ambulance… https://t.co/OyGann4gvx — ANI (@ANI) 1532172364000

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a countrywide emergency ambulance service for Sri Lanka and said that India will always stand by its neighbor — in good times and bad.Addressing the inaugural function via video conferencing from the national capital, PM Modi said that the event marks another major achievement in the partnership between India and Sri Lanka."During my visit last year, I had promised that India will work for expanding the pre-hospital Emergency Ambulance Service all over Sri Lanka. I am happy that we have fulfilled our promise in a timely manner," Modi said.Highlighting the close ties between the two neighbors, Modi said, "It is not just a co-incidence that India has the privilege to be Sri Lanka’s partner in establishing this first responder service and in its expansion.""In good times and bad, India has been, and will always be, the first responder for Sri Lanka," he said.The PM added that Sri Lanka is not just India's neighbor, but a very special and trusted partner in South Asia and Indian Ocean.Modi was of the view that the people of the two countries should be in constant touch with each other so that they know each other better and become even closer friends.Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was present at the inaugural function in Jaffna , thanked Prime Minister Modi and expressed his gratitude for the "generous gesture" by India.The service has been introduced in two provinces of Sri Lanka with assistance from India and is being expanded to the remaining seven provinces.