Sri Lanka Assures India of Guarding its Security Concerns against Inimical Forces
NEW DELHI, Dec 16: In a significant commitment on defence cooperation, Sri Lanka on Monday re-assured India that it would not permit its territory to be used in any manner inimical to the security of India.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka reiterated Colombo’s stand in the joint statement on Monday making its promise to New Delhi official.
Colombo’s assurance to New Delhi comes at a time when China is aggressively pursuing its ‘Mission Indian Ocean’ – which targets India. China, which has taken over Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port after Colombo failed to pay off Chinese debt, has been docking its naval surveillance and spy ships. Over the last two years, Beijing has, on multiple occasions, stationed its 25,000-tonne satellite and ballistic missile tracking ship Yuan Wang 5, detrimental to New Delhi’s interests due to Sri Lanka’s proximity to India.
In August 2022, after New Delhi had raised its concern with Colombo, Sri Lanka had initially asked Beijing to defer its initial arrival and desist from such activity, but later allowed the Chinese ship to dock for ‘replenishment’. Since then, the Chinese surveillance and spy ships have regularly been patrolling the Indian Ocean region and docking at Hambantota.
With a robust tracking, sensing and communication relay system the Yuan Wang 5 is capable of detecting foreign satellites, aerial assets and missile systems. China had taken possession of the Hambantota port for a lease of 99 years after Colombo was unable to repay $100 million annually for the $1.7 billion loan that it had taken for the construction of the port, the first phase of which was completed in 2010.
Monday’s agreement with India ensures Sri Lankan territory, including its waters shall “not be used in any manner inimical to the security of India”. Nor for any operations that may adversely impact the regional stability.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Disanayaka held a comprehensive dialogue in New Delhi on Monday where the entire gamut of bilateral ties was discussed in detail. The two leaders reaffirmed that the India-Sri Lanka bilateral partnership is underpinned by deep-rooted cultural and civilizational ties, geographical proximity and the people-to-people relations.
President Disanayaka conveyed his deep appreciation for the unwavering support extended by India to the people of Sri Lanka during and after the unprecedented economic crisis in 2022. Both leaders acknowledged that bilateral ties had deepened over the years and contributed significantly to the socio-economic development of Sri Lanka. Both sides adopted a futuristic vision to expand the India-Sri Lanka partnership and aimed to soon conclude a comprehensive defence cooperation pact and decided to ramp up energy ties by establishing electricity grid connectivity and multi-product petroleum pipelines.
Prime Minister Modi said both sides decided to emphasise investment-led growth and connectivity for the India-Sri Lanka economic partnership, and it was decided that physical, digital and energy connectivity would be key pillars of the cooperation. Work would be done to establish electricity grid connectivity and multi-product petroleum pipelines, Mr Modi said adding India would supply liquefied natural gas to the island nation’s power plants.
The Prime Minister also announced that a ferry service would be started between Rameshwaram and Talaimannar to boost connectivity between the two nations. “We both agree that our security interests are interconnected. We have decided to soon finalise the defence cooperation agreement. There has also been an agreement for cooperation on hydrography,” Mr Modi said.
The vexed fishermen issue also figured in the talks. “We also discussed issues related to the livelihood of fishermen. We agree that we must proceed with a humanitarian approach to this matter,” Mr Modi said. Referring to the Tamil issue, Mr Modi said India hoped that the Sri Lankan government would fulfil the aspirations of the community.
The Prime Minister also noted that India has so far provided Lines of Credit and grant assistance worth $5 billion to Sri Lanka. “We have cooperation in all 25 districts of Sri Lanka and selection of our projects is always based on priorities of our partner countries,” Mr Modi said.
(Manas Dasgupta)
