Modi in Maldives, Sri Lanka : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

Modi in Maldives, Sri Lanka

PM Narendra Modi, in his second term, is seeking to elevate ties with the critical Indian Ocean countries — the Maldives and Sri Lanka — on a sounder footing to ensure they remain unimpressed by suitors with whom India is in competition.

Modi in Maldives, Sri Lanka


PM Narendra Modi, in his second term, is seeking to elevate ties with the critical Indian Ocean countries — the Maldives and Sri Lanka — on a sounder footing to ensure they remain unimpressed by suitors with whom India is in competition. It was to secure the neighbourhood minus Pakistan that he had invited the BIMSTEC grouping for his second swearing-in ceremony. And it was for a similar endgame that he pencilled the Maldives and Sri Lanka as his first overseas destinations. The Maldives rolled out the red carpet in full measure and the entire Council of Ministers turned out to greet him. Modi was bestowed the highest national honour besides being invited to address Parliament. In Sri Lanka, too, PM Modi was warmly feted and approached by the entire political spectrum. 

From available evidence, both countries have warmed up to India after the change in governments. A particularly bitter chapter with the Maldives ended last year with the defeat of the Abdulla Yameen regime. The Rajapaksa administration’s defeat in Sri Lanka also ended the uninhibited entry of China and the stalling of Indian proposals. Elections in both island-nations have swung back the balance to India and PM Modi was quick to capitalise on the regime changes. He was the highest ranking dignitary at Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s inaugural in Male last year while the India-Japan-US troika quickly got down to business in Colombo by winning the contract to set up a container terminal at Colombo port. 

But this is work in progress and much will depend on India’s effectiveness in translating promises into actual work on the ground. The fact that the Maldives swung China’s way despite India having historically provided all manner of help shows that New Delhi cannot rest on its oars. It is the same story in Sri Lanka where PM Modi has tried to erase lingering suspicions about India’s bias to Tamil separatists by visiting the site of the Sunday Easter bombing. The challenge is to avoid vacuous announcements or ones that have no hope of being realised, like the ferry from Kochi to Male which was first agreed upon eight years back. 

Top News

Deeply biased: MEA on US report citing human rights violations in India

Deeply biased: MEA on US report citing human rights violations in India

The annual report of the State Department highlights instanc...

Family meets Amritpal Singh in Assam jail after his lawyer claims he'll contest Lok Sabha poll from Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib

Couldn't talk due to strictness of jail authorities: Amritpal's family after meeting him in jail

Their visit comes a day after Singh's legal counsel Rajdev S...

Centre grants 'Y' category security cover to Phillaur MLA Vikramjit Chaudhary among 3 Punjab Congress rebels

Centre grants 'Y' category security to Phillaur MLA Vikramjit Chaudhary and 2 other Punjab Congress rebels

The Central Reserve Police Force has been directed by the Mi...

First Sikh court opens in UK to deal with family disputes: Report

First Sikh court opens in UK to deal with family disputes

According to ‘The Times’, the Sikh court was launched last w...


Cities

View All