https://sputniknews.in/20241216/dissanayakes-visit-a-gamechanger-for-india-sri-lanka-ties-navy-vet-8553893.html
Dissanayake's Visit a Gamechanger for India-Sri Lanka Ties: Navy Vet
Dissanayake's Visit a Gamechanger for India-Sri Lanka Ties: Navy Vet
Sputnik India
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who's on a state visit to India, held talks with PM Modi in New Delhi on Monday. This is Dissanayake's first bilateral visit since assuming presidency this year.
2024-12-16T18:59+0530
2024-12-16T18:59+0530
2024-12-16T18:59+0530
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The sheer scope of bilateral announcements made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake – in the realms of physical connectivity, energy, defence, culture, capacity building and people-to-people ties – is an "unprecedented development" in relations between the two countries and bolsters India's status as the biggest power in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), an Indian Navy veteran has told Sputnik India.Vasan said that the bilateral understandings reached between India and Sri Lanka would "fundamentally alter" the way in which both the nations engage with each other.India has demonstrated that Sri Lanka occupies a central role in its Neighbourhood First and Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) policies, he stated.Since 2021, India has provided Sri Lanka with over $4 billion in line of credits (LOCs) and grants to help it tide over its worst financial crisis since Independence. Significantly, India has also been the co-chair of the Official Creditors’ Committee (OCC) finalising Sri Lanka's debt restructuring process with external lenders. In fact, India's monetary assistance to Sri Lanka has even surpassed that of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).Sri Lanka's president has reciprocated well to India's overtures, Vasan further pointed out."Giving the historically anti-India politics espoused by Dissanayake, there were apprehensions about how he would deal with India after coming to power. However, Dissanayake clearly understands the importance of India and has been very responsive to our concerns and sensitives, as affirmed by him during the joint statement," Vasan said.An India-Sri Lanka joint statement released after the leadership talks higlighted exploring a defence pact, fostering cooperation in hydrography, intensifying collaboration through joint exercises, and providing Indian defence platforms and assets to Sri Lankan forces.Enhanced defence ties would only build on the legacy of trilateral Exercise DOSTI between India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives as well as the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), both of which seek to bolster regional maritime cooperation to counter traditional and non-traditional threats, Vasan emphasised.Importantly, Sri Lanka has announced a one-year pause on visits of all foreign research vessels starting January this year.Interestingly, Dissanayake is expected to visit China next month as he tries to balance his government's ties between India and China, which is Sri Lanka's biggest economic partner.Meanwhile, during the joint press statement, PM Modi identified physical, digital and energy connectivity as the main "pillars" of bilateral ties, as he called for an "investment-led" growth in ties. The two leaders signed pacts on capacity-building and another one on double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA). While Modi highlighted that Indian and Sri Lankan security interests were "intertwined," Dissanayake reassured that Sri Lanka would not do anything that goes against India's security interests in the region.Modi also announced a new ferry service between Rameswaram and Talaimannar, commencement of work on establishing an electricity grid connectivity and a multi-product petroleum pipeline as well as a grant assistance for the signaling project in Maho-Anuradhapura section.Dissanayake arrived in New Delhi on Sunday evening and held talks with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman the same evening. During the visit, the Sri Lankan leader is also scheduled to travel to the historical site of Bodh Gaya to bolster Buddhist linkages between the two countries.
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Dissanayake's Visit a Gamechanger for India-Sri Lanka Ties: Navy Vet
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, on his first bilateral visit since taking office, held talks with PM Modi in New Delhi on Monday, agreeing on a "roadmap" to strengthen bilateral ties.
The sheer scope of bilateral announcements made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake – in the realms of physical connectivity, energy, defence, culture, capacity building and people-to-people ties – is an "unprecedented development" in relations between the two countries and bolsters India's status as the biggest power in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), an Indian Navy veteran has told Sputnik India.
"It is clear from this raft of agreements that both Sri Lanka and India have understood the importance of working together. India, from its perspective, is very conscious of the external power play in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) dynamics. Therefore, enhanced defence cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, including plans to ink a formal defence pact, sends out a clear strategic message," remarked retired Commodore Seshadri Vasan, Director General of Chennai Centre for China Studies (C3S) and Regional Director at National Maritime Foundation (NMF).
Vasan said that the bilateral understandings reached between India and Sri Lanka would "fundamentally alter" the way in which both the nations engage with each other.
India has demonstrated that Sri Lanka occupies a central role in its Neighbourhood First and Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) policies, he stated.
"What it conveys to neighbours is that India walks the talk on its promises and is willing to go the extra mile in complementing the developmental objectives of smaller countries," the Indian Navy veteran stated.
Since 2021, India has provided Sri Lanka with over $4 billion in line of credits (LOCs) and grants to help it tide over its worst financial crisis since Independence. Significantly, India has also been the co-chair of the Official Creditors’ Committee (OCC) finalising Sri Lanka's debt restructuring process with external lenders. In fact, India's monetary assistance to Sri Lanka has even
surpassed that of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Sri Lanka's president has reciprocated well to India's overtures, Vasan further pointed out.
"Giving the historically anti-India politics espoused by Dissanayake, there were apprehensions about how he would deal with India after coming to power. However, Dissanayake clearly understands the importance of India and has been very responsive to our concerns and sensitives, as affirmed by him during the joint statement," Vasan said.
The announcements about a potential framework agreement on defence cooperation and enhancing ties in hydrography could be potential "gamechangers" in India-Sri Lanka security ties, the IN veteran said.
An India-Sri Lanka joint statement released after the leadership talks higlighted exploring a defence pact, fostering cooperation in hydrography, intensifying collaboration through joint exercises, and providing Indian defence platforms and assets to Sri Lankan forces.
Enhanced defence ties would only build on the legacy of trilateral Exercise DOSTI between India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives as well as the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), both of which seek to bolster regional maritime cooperation to counter traditional and non-traditional threats, Vasan emphasised.
"In terms of hydrography, Indian assets would potentially get involved in mapping a crucial part of the Indian Ocean. This comes amid concerns by previous calls by Chinese research vessel at Sri Lankan ports. I believe that this would be game-changer agreement for the two countries, given the implications of hydrography for underwater exploration and mapping the ocean," stated Vasan.
Importantly, Sri Lanka has announced a one-year pause on visits of all foreign research vessels starting January this year.
Interestingly, Dissanayake is expected to visit China next month as he tries to
balance his government's ties between India and China, which is Sri Lanka's biggest economic partner.
Further, Vasan said that India would always like to be in the "driver's seat" in managing the security and stability of the Indian Ocean Region, a theme which also figured prominently during talks between Modi and Dissanayake. He added that while India has never claimed ownership of the IOR, it is a major stakeholder due to geostrategic and historic factors.
Meanwhile, during the joint press statement, PM Modi identified physical, digital and energy connectivity as the main "pillars" of bilateral ties, as he called for an "investment-led" growth in ties. The two leaders signed pacts on capacity-building and another one on double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA).
While Modi highlighted that Indian and Sri Lankan security interests were "intertwined," Dissanayake reassured that Sri Lanka would not do anything that goes against India's security interests in the region.
Modi also announced a new ferry service between Rameswaram and Talaimannar, commencement of work on establishing an electricity grid connectivity and a multi-product petroleum pipeline as well as a grant assistance for the signaling project in Maho-Anuradhapura section.
Dissanayake arrived in New Delhi on Sunday evening and held talks with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman the same evening. During the visit, the Sri Lankan leader is also scheduled to travel to the historical site of Bodh Gaya to bolster Buddhist linkages between the two countries.
