Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to visit India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but the visit will take place only after Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed on Tuesday. The much-anticipated visit will mark a new chapter in bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka, following the recent presidential transition in Colombo.
“We will discuss dates for the visit only after we form the new government,” Herath told reporters, referring to the upcoming parliamentary elections. Voting for the election is scheduled for November 14, almost 10 months ahead of the originally planned schedule. Once the election concludes and a new government is formed, formal discussions regarding the presidential visit to Delhi will commence.
Recent Presidential Election and Political Transition
Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected President of Sri Lanka on September 21, marking a significant political shift in the island nation. His election followed a period of political and economic instability in Sri Lanka, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, economic crises, and social unrest.
Shortly after his election, India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar became the first foreign dignitary to meet President Dissanayake. During his visit to Colombo, Jaishankar extended an official invitation to Dissanayake on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This invitation reflects India’s continued interest in strengthening its ties with Sri Lanka and supporting the country’s economic recovery.
Sri Lankan officials acknowledged the significance of Jaishankar’s visit, particularly in relation to Sri Lanka’s ongoing debt restructuring efforts. The visit was seen as a critical step toward resolving the nation’s debt issues with international sovereign bondholders. Sri Lanka has been facing a severe financial crisis, and India has emerged as a key partner in helping the country stabilize its economy.
Historical Context: JVP and Relations with India
Dissanayake’s upcoming visit to India holds historical importance given the complex relationship between India and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the Marxist political party Dissanayake has led since 2014. The JVP was notorious for its strong anti-India stance during the late 1980s, particularly in relation to the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord. This agreement, signed between then-Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayewardene, aimed to address the demands of Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority for political autonomy and involved Indian intervention in the country’s civil conflict.
Between 1987 and 1990, the JVP waged a violent insurgency against the Sri Lankan government, condemning the Indo-Lanka Accord as a betrayal of the nation’s sovereignty. The party opposed what it saw as India’s interference in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs and sought to prevent the devolution of power to the Tamil community. During this time, the JVP was responsible for widespread violence, including targeted attacks on Indian interests in the country.
However, over the years, the JVP has softened its stance on India, and Dissanayake’s leadership has ushered in a more pragmatic approach to foreign relations. In February this year, prior to his election as president, Dissanayake visited India in his capacity as the leader of the opposition. It was a historic visit, marking the first time a leader of the JVP engaged in a formal diplomatic visit to India. This visit symbolized the evolving dynamics between the two countries and the JVP’s changing political outlook.
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Strengthening Bilateral Ties
The upcoming visit by President Dissanayake is expected to further cement the relationship between India and Sri Lanka, with a focus on key issues such as economic cooperation, debt restructuring, and regional security. India has played a vital role in assisting Sri Lanka during its economic crisis, providing financial aid, credit lines, and essential goods to help stabilize the country. As a regional power and close neighbor, India has consistently expressed its support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and political stability.
In addition to economic matters, the two countries are likely to discuss regional security concerns, particularly in the context of the Indian Ocean region, where both nations have strategic interests. India has been keen to strengthen its maritime security partnership with Sri Lanka, given the increasing presence of other powers in the region.
Looking Ahead
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to India will be a significant moment in Sri Lanka’s foreign relations, marking the first high-level engagement between the two nations under his leadership. While the exact dates for the visit will be finalized after Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections, the meeting is expected to focus on deepening economic and security ties, addressing the challenges of debt restructuring, and fostering stronger regional cooperation.
For India, Dissanayake’s visit represents an opportunity to reinforce its role as a key partner in Sri Lanka’s recovery, while also addressing shared concerns about regional stability and security. With both countries poised to enter a new phase of cooperation, the visit is expected to highlight the enduring importance of India-Sri Lanka relations in South Asia.
