India, Sri Lankan Discuss Bilateral Trade, Stability in the IOR

Sri Lanka under new leadership is fortifying its relations with India, as a month after President Rajapaksa’s trip, Colombo sends its Foreign Minister on three-day visit to New Delhi

New Delhi

Sri Lanka under its new President Gotbaya Rajapaksa is carrying out robust exchanges with an intent to fortify its relations with India. The exchanges are topped with visits of senior officials from the island nation to India, the latest being Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, who is on a three-day official trip to New Delhi.

Gunawardena, who is leading a high-level delegation, is on his maiden foreign trip after he took over as foreign minister in November 2019, after formation of new government under President Rajapaksa. The Sri Lankan foreign minister landed in New Delhi on the night of 8 January.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today, held comprehensive talks with Gunawardena, exploring ways to further deepen bilateral ties in a range of areas including trade and investment.

The Sri Lankan minister is also slated to discuss cooperation of the neighboring nations on selected economic projects, investments by Indian companies, issue of fishermen and stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Gunawardena, who holds charge of skill development and labor relations, will also have meeting with his Indian counterparts during his stay. He is also scheduled to visit Mahabodhi temple society on 10 January, before returning to Colombo.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited India in November 2019, soon after he took office as the new Head of State. He held bilateral talks with Prime Minster Modi and his Indian counterpart President Ramnath Kovind. President Rajapaksa has called for investment by Indian companies particularly in high tech sector. He has also sought collaboration for training of Sri Lankan public officials at India’s institutions to improve their skill and productivity.

Gunawardena – China

In a recent interview with a newspaper back home, Gunwardena had referred to China’s Belt Road Initiative (BRI) as an ‘asset for Asia’.

The Sri Lankan minister was quoted in an interview with a local newspaper on December 2019, saying ‘China’s initiative is an asset for Asia and other countries. We are in a century where power is shifting and Asia is going to play a major role, so the contribution that countries can play in the Asian region is very important.’

In the same interview, Gunawardena while applauding Beijing had also expressed to enhance economic and other relations with India as well as with Pakistan.

Russian, Chinese Foreign Ministers To Visit Sri Lanka

The week after he returns to Colombo, Gunwardena is set to have a busy week with high-level visits of Foreign Ministers of Russia and China to Sri Lanka.

According to sources of TheNews21 in Colombo, Gunwardena is set to meet the Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councillo Wang Yi, who will visit Sri Lanka from 13-14 January. The Chinese minister on a transit visit to Colombo is set to make a courtesy call on Gunawardena, on 14 January.

Soon after Beijing departs, the Sri Lankan minister will be greeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who will be on a two-day official visit. Lavrov is scheduled to meet with President Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, while holding talks with Gunawardena.

“Russia is keen to promote political dialogue, develop cooperation in the trade-economic, humanitarian, expand bilateral treaty with the new government under President Rajapaksa,” the Sri Lankan source said.