India-Sri Lanka Relations: What’s Next?

“There are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, only permanent interests”. This quote given by Carol Moseley Braun has again proved itself right as another turn has come up in India – Sri Lanka relationship when we recently witnessed Indian Army Chief General M M Naravane was on a visit to Sri Lanka to improve defence ties and talk about regional security challenges. And earlier this month, foreign secretary Harsh Shringla was also on a trip to Sri Lanka.

The integrated country strategy for the next two years has been released under Sri Lanka’s new high commissioner Milinda Moragoda. In this paper, Sri Lanka looks to bolster defence and security ties with India as concerns related to China continue to grow. To build trust he pointed out India’s remarkable presence in Sri Lanka already like Indian Oil-control having one-third share of petroleum distribution in Sri Lanka and how the Indian Railways has done an “immense work” to develop Sri Lankan rail network. He also pointed out how the two countries are discussing the possibility of a bilateral currency swap and maritime surveillance system. Along with all these frequent joint military exercises and exchanges, proper usage of India’s $50 million counter-terrorism credit and the issue of Sri Lankan Tamils displaced is also mentioned in the paper.

Recently, Adani Group from India signed a 35-year long Build Operate Transfer (BOT) agreement with Sri Lanka Port Authority and Sri Lanka’s largest publicly-traded company John Keells Holdings. The agreement is about developing Sri Lanka’s Colombo West International Container Terminal (CWICT) at Colombo Port. It’s big news from India’s point of view as India and Japan had already lost a past 2019 deal to jointly develop the partially functional East Container Terminal at Colombo port due to protests by some nationalist groups, Buddhist monks, and workers unions opposing any foreign influence in a national asset. This agreement sends the message to the whole world that India’s private players are now capable enough to compete on the world stage as very few of the countries would have expected this to happen. This gives India psychological satisfaction as now India will have a commercial port setup in Sri Lanka to counter China in terms of trade as well as keep an eye on China’s role in Colombo. This was necessary for India and eye-opening for China as their Merchant Ports Holdings holds 85% stakes in a BOT agreement for 35 years with Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) and have also acquired the Hambantota port on a 99-year lease by the Sri Lankan government as Sri Lanka couldn’t pay back the funding capital debt to China.

It is worth to be noted that the goods to and from India account for around 70% of the transshipment business at Colombo Port. This means India is equally important for the Sri Lankans. To have a bright future in terms of trade and security in the Indian Ocean region, India must be in good terms with Sri Lanka. First of all, India needs to fix its relationship with Anti India parties in Sri Lanka. It’s a history between India and Sri Lanka and their political scenarios. Nobody can forget those elements of Sinhalese when they demonstrated outside Indian High Commission and shouted against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. If India needs to enhance its relationship with Sri Lanka then it’s important to find a way to curb these anti-India parties. Another major dispute that lies in the path is the fishermen-related issue. There have been incidents in the past when fishermen of both countries have crossed the sea borders and entered into each other’s territories. Often the Tamil fishermen from the Indian side are caught and detained by the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN). The fishermen in Tamil Nadu are agitated and want security at sea as it is their livelihood issue. The Indian government can encourage these fishermen to go deep-sea fishing, though it will be investment intensive idea but would assure higher and steadier incomes.

There are some other aspects on which India can work and build a healthy relationship upon. India and Sri Lanka have many things in common in their culture, religion. In fact, these two countries share historical, spiritual, and linguistic ties that are more than 2500 years old. Buddhism is one such pillar that connects the people of these two countries. The Indian government announced a USD 15 million aid in the year 2020 for the purpose of promotion and protection of Buddhist ties between India and Sri Lanka was one such effort from the Indian side. And now a visit on 20th October by 100 Buddhist monks and senior ministers to Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh for the inauguration of the international airport has further enhanced people-to-people contacts. Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) has been serving a key role in strengthening relations and people-to-people contacts between India and Sri Lanka. Tourism also forms an important segment between the two counties whereas India has launched the e-Tourist Visa scheme for Sri Lankan tourists on 14 April 2015, the Sri Lankan government sharply reduced the e-tourist Visa fees.

These initiatives along with newer ones with time will guarantee a better future for India- Sri Lanka relationship. This is the need of an hour now when China’s belligerence nature is coming out in the Indo-Pacific region. Normal Sri Lankan citizens have also realized how China is using and pushing their country towards a debt trap. There were special prayers across the Island nation for the well-being of people in India in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This shows how beautiful and great the people-to-people connection exists between the two nations. And hopefully, it will only grow stronger.