India-Sri Lanka Relations

BACKGROUND AND HISTORY

India is Sri Lanka’s closest neighbor. Since the two countries’ diplomatic ties were established over 2,500 years ago, there has been a significant amount of linguistic, economic, and scientific interchange between them. In recent years, the relationship has been distinguished by high-level political exchanges, growing trade and economics, cooperation in the fields of education, culture, and the military, as well as a thorough understanding of today’s most pressing global issues. The approximately three conflicts between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan military were resolved in May 2009.

Creating e-learning centres (Nenasalas), giving fishing equipment to cooperatives, providing buses to help with road transport in mountainous and isolated places, and several smaller development projects in areas like education, wellness, and mentoring are just a few of the many small-scale initiatives taking place across the nation. In 2009, economic cooperation reached USD 2.02 billion, with 1.7 billion USD of the amount coming from Sri Lankan exports and 326 USD from Indian exports. The two nations concluded talks on a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement in July 2008.

Here are some major pointers that can easily define the relationship between India and Sri Lanka.

1. Sri Lanka, India’s closest maritime neighbor, is only 13 nautical miles from its territorial boundary.
2. The ties between the two countries are more than 2500 years old and share cultural, linguistic, and religious interaction.
3. More than 60 million Tamils live in India, while only about 4 million live in Sri Lanka.
4. Sinhalese and Tamils are two major ethnic groups in Sri Lanka.
5. There was a conflict between Sri Lankan forces and the LTTE, which deteriorated bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka.
6. Under Operation Pawan India, India deployed Indian Peace Keeping Forces, and this conflict ended in 2009.

Political Relations

Political relations are maintained when visits of Delegates at regular intervals. And the Political Relations of both countries are marked by it.

1. In 2015, Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena officially visited India. And P.M. Modi paid a return visit to Colombo.
2. In 2019, P.M. Modi again visited Sri Lanka showing a symbiotic relationship between both countries.
3. India Played an important role in Sri Lanka becoming a member of regional groupings Like BIMSTEC and SAARC.
4. Sri Lanka has always been in India’s geopolitical arena, but in recent years Sri Lanka bends towards China more.

Cultural and Educational Relations

1. In 1977 Cultural Cooperation was signed between both countries.
2. There is an Indian Cultural Center in Colombo that promotes Indian culture. On the other hand, India provides scholarships to Sri Lankan students.
3. Sri Lanka is also partnered with the Nalanda University Project
4. .India also launched an e-Tourist visa scheme for Sri Lankan Tourists.
5. Apart from this, there are many various underlying issues and China’s growing footprints in Sri Lanka are straining the relations between these neighbours.

Defence and Security Cooperation

There is a long history of security relationships between New Delhi and Sri Lanka. As in recent times, it increased Military to Military Relationships.

1. India and Sri Lanka Conducted Joint Military Exercise (Mitra Shakti) and Joint Naval Exercise (LINEX). India also provides defence Training to Sri Lankan forces.
2. Both countries have Trilateral Maritime security cooperation with the Maldives to improve surveillance, and anti-piracy operations and to reduce maritime pollution in the Indian Ocean Region. Commercial Relations
3. India and Sri Lanka joint commission was established in 1992.
4. India is Sri Lanka’s largest trade partner globally.
5. In 2021, India’s Exports to Sri Lanka were $4.8 billion, Whereas imports from Sri Lanka were $980 Million.
6. A Free Trade Agreement between both countries was signed in 2000, whereas in 2015 Civilian nuclear energy deal was signed.
7. CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) is yet to be signed between both countries.

Tourism also played an important aspect in the commercial relations of both countries. India is the largest source of income for Sri Lanka’s tourism.

Way Forward

1. To improve economic relations, CEPA must be signed by both countries.
2. The two countries should recognize the legitimacy of each other’s concerns and work to make this relationship more fruitful and mutually workable.
3. India should solve the sovereignty issues (on Katchatheevu Island) and other ordinary issues to improve relations with Sri Lanka.

By Abhishek Makkar