NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar met with Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Friday and conveyed India’s unwavering commitment to supporting Colombo’s economic recovery efforts.
During their meeting, they explored avenues to enhance the existing cooperation and fortify the ties between India and Sri Lanka.
Jaishankar is the first foreign dignitary to visit Sri Lanka since the National People’s Power (NPP) government led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake came to power on September 23.
Jaishankar, who arrived in Sri Lanka for a one-day visit, also held meetings with prime minister Harini Amarasuriya and his Sri Lankan counterpart, Vijitha Herath.
In his social media post, president Dissanayake mentioned that their discussions centered around strengthening cooperation in various sectors, including tourism, energy, and investment. He also highlighted the importance of ongoing collaboration in areas such as fisheries, security, and national unity. “Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery,” the president added.
Upon his arrival, Jaishankar was greeted at the airport by Sri Lankan foreign secretary Aruni Wijewardena and the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha.
During his visit, Jaishankar also met Sajith Premadasa, Sri Lanka’s leader of the opposition from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya party.
Premadasa, the leader of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party, is the son of former president Ranasinghe Premadasa.
In his meeting with prime minister Harini Amarasuriya, Jaishankar conveyed his well wishes for her new role and discussed topics such as digital public infrastructure, training, and capacity building. They agreed to collaborate in advancing the partnership between the two nations.
During his extensive talks with foreign minister Vijitha Herath, Jaishankar reviewed various aspects of the India-Sri Lanka partnership. He reiterated India’s steadfast support for Sri Lanka’s economic rebuilding efforts, emphasizing that India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and Sagar outlook will continue to guide the progress of bilateral ties.
Sri Lanka, a key maritime neighbor of India in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), holds a special place in India’s initiatives like ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy.’ In April 2022, the island nation declared its first sovereign default since gaining independence from Britain in 1948, following an unprecedented financial crisis that led to civil unrest and the resignation of then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022, PTI News Agency reported.
India had extended assistance of approximately USD 4 billion to help Sri Lanka recover from the severe economic crisis after it announced a default on over USD 51 billion in foreign loans. Prior to his departure, the ministry of external affairs in New Delhi stated that the visit underscores the shared commitment of both countries to further deepen their long-standing partnership for mutual benefit, in line with India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and SAGAR outlook.