New Delhi: India assured continued support to Sri Lanka for rebuilding its economy and, in turn, got Colombo’s word that its territory will not be allowed to be used in a manner inimical to New Delhi’s security interests. India has regularly raised objections to the presence of Chinese research vessels near and at the Sri Lankan ports.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar in a meeting that Lankan territory would never be allowed to be used in a manner inimical to India's security interests.
During a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Colombo, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reiterated that Sri Lankan territory "will never be allowed to be used in a manner inimical to India's security interests," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a release. Jaishankar, is the first foreign dignitary to visit Sri Lanka since the National People's Power (NPP) government led by Dissanayake came to power on September 23.
Earlier, Dissanayake had said that the nation does not wish to be sandwiched, especially between China and India. “We won’t be a competitor in that geopolitical fight, nor will we be aligned to any party. We don’t want to be sandwiched, especially between China and India. Both countries are valued friends and, under an NPP government, we expect them to become close partners. We also want to maintain relations with the EU, the Middle East and Africa,” Anura Kumara Dissanayake said on the foreign policy in the interview with Monocle magazine.
Dissanayake On India's Economic Support To Lanka
Dissanayake asserted that India's economic support is critical to realise his vision of a prosperous Sri Lanka. Dissanayake said that India's economic support is "critical to realise his vision of a prosperous Sri Lanka and meeting the aspirations of the people," the MEA statement said, adding, the potential of export of renewable energy to India could help reduce production costs in Sri Lanka and create additional resources.
In April 2022, the island nation declared its first ever sovereign default since gaining Independence from Britain in 1948. India had then pitched in with about USD 4 billion in assistance to enable the island nation to recover from a deep economic crisis after it announced the default on over USD 51 billion foreign loans.
Dissanayake To Visit India Soon
The newly elected President fo Sri Lanka is likely to visit India soon as EAM Jaishankar, during his visit, extended an invitation on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Dissanayake to visit India at a mutually convenient date. The PMD statement said President Dissanayake also extended a similar invitation to PM Modi to visit Sri Lanka.
(With Agency Inputs)