India-Lanka rapport

A key takeaway from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-day visit to Sri Lanka is that the two neighbours have interlinked security interests and are committed to strengthening their ties in defence and other sectors. The signing of a pact to institutionalise military cooperation is a major step forward; it is expected to provide for more joint naval exercises and facilitate greater collaboration between their defence industries. No less important is a trilateral agreement —involving India, Sri Lanka and the UAE — for developing Trincomalee as an energy hub. This is apparently a bid by India to counter China, whose state energy firm Sinopec signed a deal earlier this year to build an oil refinery in Sri Lanka’s southern port city of Hambantota.

Beijing’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean Region has prompted New Delhi to reach out to littoral nations such as Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Colombo has been walking a deft tightrope, eager not to antagonise both Asian giants. India acted as the first responder when the island-nation was rocked by an economic crisis of 2022. The current firming up of a debt restructuring agreement is intended to impress upon Sri Lanka that India, unlike China, is not keen on a transactional relationship — mutual trust and goodwill are Delhi’s avowed priorities.

PM Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake have also made headway in resolving the contentious issue of Indian fishermen. Hundreds of them from Tamil Nadu have been arrested over the years by the Sri Lankan authorities for inadvertently fishing in that nation’s waters. The release of several Indian fishermen on Sunday will help in easing maritime tensions. The PM has also urged the Dissanayake government to fulfil the aspirations of the Tamil community and conduct provincial council elections. These pro-Tamil initiatives are significant as the BJP is looking to make big inroads into Tamil Nadu, which goes to the polls next year.