Sri Lanka
- 2500 years of civiilzational links, marked by strong cultural, religious, linguistic exchanges
- Mahinda Rajapaksa: India is relative of SL while all other countries are friends
Relations
- vital for indo pacific & SAGAR vision
- economic: largest trading partner $5.5B in 2023-24 w/ India
- India invested over $2.25B
- Post covid: India extended $400M currency swap
- Political relations: neighborhood first
- Defence: SLINEX, Mitra Shakti, collab on counter terrorism, cybersec, maritime security
- Cultural: shared buddhist heritage, scholarship, ITEC, Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center
- supports housing for Tamils, solar projects, $4B during 2022 economic crisis
Recent developments
- SL conferred Mitra Vibhushana on PM Modi
- 5yr pact on exercises, surveillance, maritime cooperation
- energy & infra: grid connectivity: Trincomalee energy hub
- india offered loan grants at lower interest rates
- sacred relics sent from gujarat for Vesak 2025
- Digital & currency cooeration: UPI in SL
Colombo Security Conclave
- 2011: India, SL, Maldives - revived in 2020
- includes mauritius, Seychelles, Bangladesh
- Focus: maritime security, counter terrorism, cybersecurity, drug trafficking, disaster relief
INdia’s significance in SL
- strategic location
- economic stake - trade partner, investor
- geopolitcal role: crucial to india’s open rim vision
- china factor: india vary of China’s strategic port investments eg. Hambantota
Issues
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Tamil Issue | continued discrimination, non implementation of 13th Amendment & Indo SL Accord |
| China’s presence | 99yr Hanmantota lease |
| Chinese Subs docking | |
| India’s exclusion from Mattala Airport | |
| Fishermen dispute | Arrestst for entering SL water |
| Katchatheevu island rights unresolved | |
| Trade imbalence | india has surplus |
| SL demands better market access | |
| Political Sensitivities | Tamil Nadu shapes indian stance |
| some SL factions fuel anti indian stance |
India role during SL 2022 crisis
- financial aid 1B line of credit
- Fuel supply: 40GT fuel, $500M line prevented collapse
- 2.9B IMF bailout
- Humanitarian relief
- global advocacy at IMF, G20, WB
India’s role in SL reflects blend of historical affinity, regional leadership, strategic foresight. Sustaining this relationship requires addressing bilateral issues while strengthening connectivity, trust, mutual growth in IOR.