Sri Lankan Presidential Hopeful Holds Talks With Doval, Jaishankar in India

Sri Lankan opposition leader Anura Kumar Dissanayake, the leader of centre-left Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), held consultations with Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar in New Delhi on Tuesday, according to statements.

A statement from Dissanayake's office said that he held detailed discussions on "regional security and bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and India" during the meeting with Doval.

Meanwhile, Jaishankar said that he held a "good discussion on our bilateral relationship and the mutual benefits from its further deepening".

"(We) also spoke about Sri Lanka’s economic challenges and the path ahead. India, with its Neighbourhood First and SAGAR policies will always be a reliable friend and trusted partner of Sri Lanka”, Jaishankar said in a social media post after his meeting with Dissanayake.

Explaining the significance of the Sri Lankan opposition leader's visit to New Delhi, an analyst told Sputnik India that Dissanayake was being viewed as a "possible frontrunner" in the presidential election this year.

"While the JVP has been around since the 1960s before it entered electoral politics, India and the JVP haven't had a real working relationship like New Delhi has with other Sri Lankan political parties," stated N Sathya Sai Moorthy, a Chennai-based policy analyst and commentator.

Moorthy highlighted that this was the first time in history that India and the JVP were holding "detailed discussions on matters pertaining to security, economic and political cooperation" at the level of NSA and Foreign Minister.

"The idea is for both India and the JVP to know each other better. For India, it is important to understand JVP's political ideology. India must understand JVP's views on the Tamil resettlement issue and its policy towards China among other things," the Indian analyst explained.

Groundbreaking Visit Highlights NPP's Growing Influence, Opposition Says

The NPP said in a statement on Monday that the "groundbreaking" visit to India was a testament to party's growing international stature.

"This unprecedented move not only strengthens bilateral relations but also underscores the NPP’s growing international influence and strategic vision, particularly in navigating relations between the two economic powerhouses, China and India," the Sri Lankan opposition said.

It noted that the visit came at a "crucial time" ahead of the impending election in the country.

"The visit not only strengthens economic ties but also sends a clear signal to Sri Lanka’s political landscape, suggesting that India recognizes the NPP as a pivotal player in shaping the nation’s future," the NPP said.

World News

India Launches UPI Digital Payments System in Sri Lanka, Modi Says

21 July 2023, 14:41

Sri Lankan Presidential Hopeful Holds Talks With NSA Doval, Jaishankar in Key India Visit