Indian Ambassador-designate to Italy Basant Gupta is expected to take up his new position during the later part of the month, the official spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday.

Gupta was expected to travel to Rome on March 15, but the Government asked him not to take up his assignment as Italy was not willing to send back two Italian marines accused of killing Indian fishermen.

The Italian Government, however, decided to send back the two Italian marines before the deadline set by the Supreme Court. The move helped settle what was turning out to be a diplomatic row between India and Italy.

“Since the circumstances that precluded his move then have now passed us and we now have moved forward in that context. We expect that during the course of this month, perhaps, the later half of this month or end of the month, he (Gupta) will be able to move from Delhi and assume his new responsibilities in Rome,” the official spokesperson said at a media briefing.

Projects in Sri Lanka

The two rail lines in Sri Lanka based on an $800-million line of credit from India are ahead of schedule and are expected to be completed by the end of the year, the spokesman added.

ashwini.phadnis@thehindu.co.in

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