Prime Minister Narendra Modi left from Thailand on 4 April after attending the BIMSTEC Summit and started the second phase of his foreign trip with a three -day visit to Sri Lanka. During this visit of PM Modi, Sri Lanka and India will focus on further deepening their defense relations, energy, trade and contact. Prime Minister Modi last visited Sri Lanka in 2019 and this island is his fourth visit to the nation since 2015.
The relations between India and Sri Lanka led to tension in 2022 when a Chinese missile and satellite tracking ship anchored at the Hambantota port. A few days later, a Chinese warship was also deployed at the Colombo port. But Sri Lanka did a course correction very soon. In the last year’s election, Anuraya Kumara Disanayake won and became the 10th President of this island nation. Disanayak is a Left -minded leader and during the election campaign, some of his statements were pointing out that if the reins of Sri Lanka fall in their hands, he can give China preference on India.
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Disanayak came to India on his first foreign trip
But Disanayake chose India for his first foreign trip as President. At the same time, after the formation of a new government in Sri Lanka, PM Modi is the first foreign leader who has come on a tour here. This shows how important India is for Sri Lanka. The purpose of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka is to increase bilateral defense relations and strengthen partnership in energy, trade and contact fields. The leaders are expected to finalize an important defense cooperation agreement after the recent discussions between the Indian Prime Minister and President Disinayake.
If this Defense Cooperation Agreement is signed, it will be a big place in India-Sri Lanka relations, which will surpass the bitter chapter related to the Indian Peace Sena (IPKF) from the Island nation about 35 years ago. China’s growing military influence on Sri Lanka can be seen as another reason for India’s new efforts to strengthen relations with Colombo. China is increasing its influence in the Indian Ocean region and is especially focusing on areas of Indian strategic importance.
Also read: PM Modi reached Sri Lanka on a three -day visit … Defense, many agreements including energy will be discussed
Sri Lanka is entangled in its debt trap by China
Sri Lanka, who is struggling with the economic crisis, has also been entangled by China in its debt trap. After Sri Lanka inability to fulfill debt obligations, China acquired the Hambantota port on a 99 -year lease. The first phase of this development project costing $ 1.7 billion was completed in 2010, for which Sri Lanka was to pay $ 100 million annually, but Colombo was unable to fulfill this commitment. Instead, China has acquired the Hambantota port and has got a chance to deploy other ships including Satellite weighing 25,000 tons and missile tracking ship Yuan Wang 5 there.
Given the geographical location of Sri Lanka, this strategic situation is a matter of concern for India. Recently, Sri Lankan President Disanayake visited China. After his visit, China has offered to invest $ 3.7 billion in Sri Lanka, which is said to be the biggest foreign investment ever in the island nation. This investment will be made to create state -of -the -art oil refinery in Hambantota. Both countries have signed a new scheme to upgrade the cooperation for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).