New Delhi: Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake assured visiting external affairs minister S. Jaishankar that Sri Lankan territory would not be used in any way detrimental to Indian interests, India said on Friday (October 4).
This assurance came during Jaishankar’s meeting with Dissanayake in Colombo, marking the first high-level interaction between the two nations since the new Sri Lankan leadership emerged in the September 21 presidential election.
Dissanayake, Sri Lanka’s first Left-leaning president, is seen by observers as a product of voters turning away from the traditional political elite in the wake of the country’s economic collapse and the Aragalaya movement two years ago.
Jaishankar had earlier met with Dissanayake in February this year, when the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna leader visited India on the invitation of the Indian government. This time, he was bearing an invitation from Indian PM Narendra Modi for Dissanayake to visit India as Sri Lanka’s president.
Pleased to recieve Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar today, during his official visit to Sri Lanka. Discussions focused on boosting cooperation in multiple sectors. Dr. Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. The importance of… pic.twitter.com/k1fcrzj4jh
— Anura Kumara Dissanayake (@anuradisanayake) October 4, 2024
Upon arriving in Colombo on Friday morning, Jaishankar held a series of meetings with the Sri Lankan leadership, notably with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, his counterpart Vijitha Herath, as well as senior politicians like opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The Indian readout of Jaishankar’s visit said that his interactions “brought out that the interests of India and Sri Lanka were closely intertwined”.
“The president reiterated that Sri Lankan territory would never [be] allowed to be used in a manner inimical to India’s security interests,” said the Indian press release.
The statement said that the overall discussions across the leadership showed that “collaboration was in mutual interest and contributed to the stability and security of the region”.
“The importance of a continuous dialogue that would promote trust, transparency and mutual sensitivity was recognised,” it added.
In 2022, Chinese research vessels started to frequent Sri Lankan waters after Wickremesinghe took over the presidency following the ouster of Gotabaya Rajapakse due to the Aragalaya movement. Both India and the US had protested these visits.
In January 2024, the Sri Lankan government announced a year-long moratorium on foreign research vessels to establish new guidelines.
As per the external affairs ministry, Jaishankar also urged the new government to fully implement the 13th constitutional amendment, which was brought in after the 1987 Indo-Sri Lanka accord.
“With regard to the ethnic issue and the reconciliation process, EAM reiterated India’s support for the aspirations of all communities, including Tamils, for equality, justice, dignity, peace while maintaining the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka. The full and effective implementation of the 13th Amendment of its constitution and the early holding of Provincial Council elections will facilitate these objectives,” it said.
Conveying India’s stance on Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring efforts, Jaishankar emphasised that India has supported the island nation’s stability and recovery from the outset. “It was the first country to provide financing assurances, enabling the IMF to finalise the Extended Fund Facility.”
He also affirmed India’s support in the Official Creditors’ Committee concerning Sri Lanka’s agreement with international sovereign bondholders and expressed readiness to accelerate the finalisation of its bilateral memorandum of understanding with Sri Lanka. The president conveyed his appreciation in this regard, stated the Indian press release.
According to the Indian readout, the Sri Lankan president noted that India’s economic support is essential to realising his vision of a prosperous Sri Lanka and fulfilling the aspirations of its people. He also proposed the potential export of renewable energy to India, which could help lower production costs in Sri Lanka and create additional resources.
While the context of this statement was not referenced, it is noteworthy that the Adani Group, seen as close to the Indian government, had planned to establish wind power farms in northern Sri Lanka, a project that has faced legal challenges. During his election campaign, Dissanayake had pledged to cancel the Adani project if elected.
In formal discussions with foreign minister Herath, Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to continue providing development assistance to Sri Lanka. He highlighted India’s proposal to modernise the Kankesanthurai port with a grant of $61.5 million.
Jaishankar also indicated that payments for seven completed Line of Credit projects of $20 million could be converted into grants. Additionally, India announced its decision to donate 22 diesel locomotives to the Sri Lankan railways.
