SRI Lankan President Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent visit to India, joint bilateral statement, and the Sri Lankan Cabinet’s approval to Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost socio-economic development and bilateral ties between the two countries, are all indicative of the commitment of both the neighbours to tread the path towards a shared future. India has been the closest friend and neighbour of Sri Lanka. Both the countries share a civilisational relationship dating back to the ‘Ramayana’ era. In the modern times, Sri Lanka is India’s closest maritime neighbour with integral importance in India’s vision ‘Sagar’ and ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.

 

During Mr. Dissanayake’s visit all these factors figured in discussion and a sincere attempt was made to foster partnership indicating continuity in bilateral relations irrespective of political change in Sri Lanka. Mr. Dissanayake’s interaction with the Indian CEOs in IT, renewable energy, agriculture, textiles, startup ecosystem and other sectors created a positive atmosphere and a renewed confidence in Sri Lanka’s potential as a good destination for investment. India has been well aware of the economic crisis that Sri Lanka has been trying to overcome under Mr. Dissanayake’s leadership. India has converted the line of credit for several projects in Sri Lanka into grants, as a gesture of goodwill that only a friend can extend. Also, India extended crucial assistance of around $4 billion through aid over the previous two years. These steps reflect India’s commitment to stabilising the Sri Lankan economy when the latter needs it the most. While all this is happening, some quarters are cynical too about the bilateral relationship between India and Sri Lanka especially since Mr. Dissanayake’s ascendance to power.

 

They often cite his party Janatha Vimukti Peramuna’s Marxist-Leninist origins and critical stand taken in the past against India. However, international politics is a different ball game from the domestic politics. Those understanding the finer dimension of this may read appropriate message in Mr. Dissanayake choosing India for his first foreign visit after assuming the office as the President of the island nation. This choice demonstrates the importance Sri Lanka and Mr. Dissanayake attach to the good bilateral ties with India. The India-Sri Lanka joint statement can be treated as a continued, but not status quoist, document when it comes to strengthening bilateral relationship. There are several sectors in which both the countries have resolved to deepen bilateral ties. Sri Lanka following up Mr. Dissanayake’s visit to India with Cabinet approval to MoU to boost bilateral ties with India in education, health, and agriculture sectors shows its seriousness about rebuilding. Apart from the Parliamentary exchanges, development co-operation, debt restructuring, energy and agriculture sector co-operation, trade and investment etc, an important part of the joint statement is mention of strategic and defence engagement.

 

Given the developments over the past few years, the influence that the Communist China tried to wield by docking its submarines at Hambantota port, this prominent mention of strategic and defence engagement with India in the joint statement is noteworthy. Since realpolitik is all about competing priorities, both the countries will have to be cautious about external forces. Sri Lanka has emerged as a bright spot as compared to Bangladesh where internal strife disturbed democratic traditions. ‘The Economist’ magazine, which chose Bangladesh as the ‘Country of the Year’, did not find reason to celebrate Sri Lanka that upheld democratic traditions despite economic and political crisis. The India-Sri Lanka strategic and defence engagement assumes greater significance in this context too.