(Commonwealth_India) Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka arrived in India on Sunday for a three-day official visit, marking his first foreign trip since assuming office in September. The visit is considered significant as it underscores the close ties between the two nations and presents an opportunity to strengthen their cooperation in various areas further. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold extensive talks with Disanayaka on Monday, addressing a wide range of issues including trade, investment, energy, and maritime security. The discussions are also expected to touch upon the Tamil community’s aspirations in Sri Lanka, with India likely to emphasize the need for Colombo to address these concerns.
Disanayaka was warmly received upon his arrival in New Delhi by Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, L Murugan. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed a warm welcome for the Sri Lankan leader, noting that the visit will provide an opportunity to further deepen the bilateral relationship and enhance people-to-people ties. Jaiswal highlighted the importance of the visit, emphasizing the strengthening of the India-Sri Lanka partnership, which is increasingly focused on areas of mutual interest.
President Disanayaka has scheduled meetings with Prime Minister Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and a business event to foster investment and promote commercial linkages between the two nations. During Disanayaka’s stay in India, the growing economic collaboration between India and Sri Lanka, particularly in the fields of trade and investment, will be a key discussion point.
One of the highlights of Disanayaka’s visit will be his trip to Bodh Gaya, a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site located in the state of Bihar. This visit reflects the cultural and religious ties that bind the two countries, with Sri Lanka having a large Buddhist population and strong historical and cultural links to India. The Sri Lankan President’s visit to Bodh Gaya is likely to further strengthen these cultural ties.
India views Sri Lanka as a vital maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region, with the island nation playing a central role in Prime Minister Modi’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy. Given the growing strategic competition in the region, the discussions during Disanayaka’s visit are expected to concentrate on enhancing maritime security cooperation. India has been particularly concerned about China’s expanding presence in the Indian Ocean, especially following incidents such as the docking of the Chinese missile and satellite tracking ship ‘Yuan Wang’ at Hambantota port in August 2022, which triggered a diplomatic rift between India and Sri Lanka. The visit is expected to address such concerns, and maritime security cooperation is likely to be a central theme in the bilateral discussions.
India has been actively supporting Sri Lanka in building its defense capabilities, including providing Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) constructed domestically. This assistance is part of a broader effort to strengthen defense and strategic ties between the two countries, aimed at countering external challenges, particularly from China’s growing influence in the region. Through these efforts, India aims to bolster Sri Lanka’s maritime security and enhance the broader security architecture of the Indian Ocean.
President Disanayaka’s visit to India is considered a crucial step in bolstering the multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two nations. As both countries face evolving regional challenges, particularly in terms of security and economic development, the partnership between India and Sri Lanka is expected to become even more critical in the years ahead. The visit serves as a reaffirmation of the strong bilateral relationship and a platform for exploring new avenues of cooperation in areas such as trade, defense, energy, and maritime security.