By: Saumya Khator
The author is a second-year bachelor’s student at Jindal School of International Affairs. She can be reached at 23jsia-saumya@jgu.edu.in.
Image Source: Hindustan Times
Introduction
Sri Lanka and India have a long-standing relationship, and despite all the turbulences, including but not limited to Fisheries Disputes, China’s foothold, Tamil Ethnic Issues, and Security Concerns, both nations continue to maintain hunky-dory relations through their bilateral engagement.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake took his oath as the 9th Executive President on September 23rd, 2024. He is the first elected Leftist President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Dr Jaishankar’s visit on October 4th, 2024, marks India's first official visit after the appointment of the novel, pro-China-leaning leadership. This visit is of significant instance of India’s commitment towards her neighbours.
Engagement and Bilateral Dialogues for Enhanced Cooperation
Dr Jaishankar, on his day-long visit, interacted with significant figures in Sri Lanka. External Affairs Minister of India, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, met with Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Former President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Leader of Samagi Jana Balawegaya, Sajith Premadasa.
Dr. Jaishankar discussed mechanisms to deepen this bilateral cooperation to strengthen India-Sri Lankan ties through ongoing initiatives; digital public infrastructure, training and capacity building, energy production and emissions, Solar electrification of religious places, tourism, and job creation in Sri Lanka to contribute to economic sustainability. The first nation to offer financial assurances concerning Sri Lanka's debt restructuring initiatives was India. The initiative presented on 4th October to modernize the Kankesanthurai port with a grant of USD 61.5 million demonstrates India's continual commitment to attaining the same. Under the IDEAS Scheme, facilitated through EXIM Bank of India, the government has extended LOC worth more than USD 2 billion to Sri Lanka up till now. This emphasizes India's efforts to uphold the "Neighbourhood First Policy" and advance the "Security and Growth for All in the Region" Initiative.
The long-standing issues of polarization between India and Sri Lanka have been discussed and commenced to remedy during this visit as 50 Tamil Nadu fishermen from Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Pudukkottai, who the Sri Lankan Navy arrested on different occasions, were released by Lankan courts on Friday, as well as the acknowledgement towards security assurance and the betterment of Sri Lanka’s India originating Tamil community with a promise to implement the 13th Amendment.
Prime Minister Modi has extended an invitation to President Dissanayake to visit India. Should the Sri Lankan President accept this invitation and follow through with it, it would signify a reaffirmation of Sri Lanka's commitment to maintaining cordial relations with India, thereby providing a glimmer of assurance regarding the future of their bilateral ties.
Areas of Discord
The launching of the IPKF in Sri Lanka remains a divisive dispute, with the consequences endured by the Sri Lankan population years after its removal. Despite the formulation of Amendment 13, little headway has been accomplished for Tamil Eelam. To effectively address this ethnic issue, reconciliation procedures for this community must be implemented.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has expressed his concern over the alarming increase in the apprehension of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities. The imposition of substantial fines for bail has skyrocketed to 42 lakhs per individual. These fishermen are being detained in Sri Lanka for crossing maritime boundaries, and consequently, Dr Jaishankar has urged Sri Lanka to adopt a more humanitarian approach to addressing this issue.
Dissanayake recently garnered headlines for announcing intentions to terminate a 450 MW wind power project in Sri Lanka established by Gautam Adani's Adani Group, which was confronting sustainability concerns. He claimed that the project constrains Sri Lanka's energy sovereignty and branded the accord as corrupt. However, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce advised Dissanayake that the project has enough potential to induce investments in Sri Lanka.
Comparative Politics
Akin to landlocked Afghanistan, the littoral state of Sri Lanka is sandwiched between China and India, with both countries aggressively vying for dominance over these economically disadvantaged nations. As Bangladesh confronts its political obstacles, the recent election shift in Sri Lanka offers significant insights that could help guide the country toward a more inclusive and resilient democratic framework.
Conclusion
This formal excursion has concluded that previous projects will be continued and mechanisms will be undertaken to strengthen and deepen substantial cooperation. However, the controversial issue of China's heavy interference in Sri Lanka's trade and economy threatening India's maritime security has not been specifically defined, during Dr. Jaishankar's visit.
The only noteworthy statement by the President of Sri Lanka reiterated that Sri Lankan territory would not be used to compromise India's security. On the backdrop of such bilateral talks, a pertinent question arises: will Sri Lanka's commitment to restrict the use of its territory for actions that threaten India’s security be honoured in the context of the substantial development assistance it receives from India? Is the promise of safeguarding territorial integrity being leveraged as a means to secure this assistance?
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The views expressed in this article are those of the author (s). They do not reflect the views or opinions of Diplomania or its members.
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