Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_ The Sri Lankan envoy emphasized the crucial role of land connectivity in fostering stronger ties between India and neighboring islands. He advocated for connectivity projects similar to the “Channel tunnel” from the UK to Europe as potential future initiatives, provided that environmental concerns are addressed. High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda discussed President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to India in July, during which an “Economic Partnership Vision” statement was unveiled, encompassing maritime, air, energy, trade, and people-to-people connectivity. He expressed Sri Lanka’s aspirations to benefit from India’s economic growth and overcome its ongoing economic crisis by building causeways, bridges, pipelines, electricity transmission lines, and landing infrastructure to facilitate increased travel to and from India. However, such initiatives would require environmental impact assessments and adherence to the proper process.
Regarding the 13th Amendment concerning the devolution of power to Tamil majority areas, the envoy explained that President Wickremesinghe had discussed his latest proposals with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit. While the joint statements made during the visit did not include India’s concerns about the amendment, the Sri Lankan envoy noted that the conversation between the leaders would continue. The vision statement after the meeting mentioned plans for a feasibility study on land connectivity between Sri Lanka and India, specifically aiming to enhance land access to the ports of Trincomalee and Colombo, foster economic growth, and strengthen the historic relationship between the two nations. However, the potential involvement of the Ram Sethu or Adam’s Bridge, a subject of religious and environmental protests, was not commented upon by the envoy.
Furthermore, the envoy highlighted the importance of an oil pipeline to meet Sri Lanka’s oil needs, particularly if it could be connected to the oil tank farms in Trincomalee, which were part of the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed during President Wickremesinghe’s visit. Moreover, similar projects were previously agreed upon during his 2017 visit as Prime Minister, but they faced delays due to internal political issues in Sri Lanka. When queried about timelines for implementing the current projects, the envoy explained that encouraging private investments was a priority and that fostering engagement from the private sector on both sides might lead to more time-sensitive and successful outcomes.
The purpose of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s recent visit to India, his first since assuming office in June 2022, was to outline Sri Lanka’s path to economic recovery, as outlined in the economic vision statement. The visit aimed to express gratitude to Prime Minister Modi and India for their support during Sri Lanka’s debt crisis. Further, in recent times, Colombo has received visits from prominent figures like French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, and an official from the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, all of whom have offered support to Sri Lanka in its debt restructuring program with the International Monetary Fund. Mr. Moragoda stressed the need to enhance economic revenue streams for recovery and expressed hope for increased Indian investment and tourism contributions to the process.
