INDIA-SRILANKA 
by Atrishekhar
Background
central place in India’s “Neighbourhood First policy
legacy of intellectual, cultural, religious and linguistic interaction
more than 2,500 years old.
Mahinda Rajpaksha, ‘India is a relative of Sri Lanka while all other countries are friends.
IMPORTANCE OF SRILANKA
GEO-POLITICAL
GEO-ECONOMIC
GEO-STRATEGIC
Sri Lanka controls the three continents of the Indian Ocean, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
huge resource rich country
critical sea route in Indian Ocean
SAARC
BIMSTEC
Chinese involvement-
Location relevance to several major powers
Multi-purpose ports-
British Defence and External Affairs Agreement of 1948
Maritime Agreement with USSR of 1962.
Chinese funded infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka still relies heavily on China for Port city project
Colombo Port-
Port city of Trincomalee
Hambantota harbour
India is Sri Lanka’s third largest export destination
India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA): More than 60% of exports since 2000
India’s largest trading partners among the SAARC countries. India in turn is Sri Lanka’s largest trade partner globally
Demand-driven development-Creating social infra
Concessional financing-LOC
Foreign direct investment (FDI)
Positive BOT
Cooperation
Geo Economic
Geostrategic
Defence
Maritime security:
anti-piracy operations
reducing maritime pollution in IOR
agreement on countering Drug and Human trafficking.
Trilateral security meeting
Sri Lanka, India and Maldives.
“four pillars” of cooperation
marine safety and security,
trafficking and organised
crime,
Terrorism and radicalisation,
Cyber security
Weapon gifts
2002
Sukanya class offshore patrol vessel
Mi-17
2019, India and Sri Lanka also concluded agreement on countering Drug and Human trafficking
Intelligence alert and help -during Easter bombings
Currency swap USD 400
Rehabilitation and relief assistance- constructed 30000 houses and other medical facility infrastructure for internally displaced Tamils
Defer pending payments- USD 500 Mllnloan deferment
LOC-total value to $1.68 billion
February 2022, India agreed to ship diesel to Sri Lanka under a $500 million credit line
agreed on a $1 billion credit line for necessary imports such as food and
pharmaceuticals.
India urged IMF to urgently provide loan to Srilanka acting as guarantor India managed to help SL get $4billion from IMF.
CHALLENGES
USD 1 billion short-term concessional loan
TAMIL ISSUE
ISSUES WITH CONSTITUTION OF SRILANKA
Religious and linguistic discrimination
Denial of Citizenship-
Civil war and Human Rights abuses
ROLE OF INDIA
Indi-Sri Lanka peace accord, 1987
UN resolution
recognition of Tamil as official language.
Sri Lanka government agreed to enact 13th Amendment
which provided for devolution of powers to provinces
2012 India voted against Sri Lanka,under TN pressure
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2021 abstained from voting in the United Nation Human Rights Council on a resolution sought tofix responsibility for war crimes and human rights violations against Tamils by Sri Lankan authorities in the final days of the Eelam War
Indian Peacekeeping Mission if LTTE did not agreed to surrender OPERATION PAWAN
result
the LTTE initially agreed to surrender their
arms to IPKF but later refused to surrender. The IPKF found itself in bloody police action against the LTTE and
the mission failed.
Sri Lanka has brought the 20th Amendment which dilutes the 13th amendment. Other provisions of Indo-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987
20th Amendment will also undo changes brought by the 19th Amendment which reduced Powers of the president.
20th Amendment seeks to establish the Executive Presidency and reduce powers of the PM and
Parliament.
FISHERMAN ISSUE
Katchatheevu island 
The island was ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974.
agreement allows Indian fishermen access to Katchatheevu for rest, for drying of nests but it did not ensure the traditional fishing rights
Sri Lanka also protests against use of big trawlers by Indian fishermen
International Maritime Boundary Line-
Joint Working Group mechanism to find the permanent solution
CHINA FACTOR
as a purely humanitarian and livelihood concern”
(ECT) project at Colombo port cancelation
Sri Lankans continue to be suspicious about India’s motives vis-a-vis the Tamil cause
India’s slow bureaucratic processes that delay approvals incite suspicions of India’s commitment to Sri Lanka.
China’s quicker decision making and its far larger assistance makes them a more attractive partner
Sri Lanka China free trade agreement-
‘China card’ against India to ward off pressures to accommodate the Tamils in a political solution based on the full implementation of the 13th Amendment
China has also emerged as the largest aid donor to Sri Lanka
It handed over a $12 million energy project to a Chinese firm for the joint development of three renewable power plants in islands off the Jaffna peninsula, about 50 km away from the Tamil Nadu coast. India has protested
Leasing of port -Sri Lanka leased Hambantota Port to China for 99 years
Civil nuclear cooperation agreement-
Debt trap diplomacy-
total debt is standing at $64bn and almost 95% of all government revenues go towards debt repayment
Debt to GDP ratio of Sri Lanka is 80% of which China and ADB own 14%.
Chinese projects have been accused of issues like non transparency, poor environmental sustainability etc.
Sri Lanka had leased Hambantota port to China for 99 years. Similarly, the new Colombo port city is considered as Chinese colony in Sri Lanka
Geo cultural
legacy of intellectual, cultural, religious and linguistic interaction
cultural cooperation agreement back in 1977
710 scholarship slots annually to Sri Lankan students.
partner in Nalanda university project of India
Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Program, India offers 402 fully-funded slots for training
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) have concluded the USD 400 million
currency swap agreement under the SAARC currency swap framework
USD 15 million grant assistance
for protection and promotion of Buddhist ties between India and Sri Lanka in 2020
Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), the cultural arm of the High Commission of India, Colombo
Kushinagar Airport in India, the place of Lord Buddha's Mahaparinibbana,as an international airport, to allow Buddhist pilgrims from around the world to visit the revered site
first ever pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya for Sri Lankan Armed Forces personnel and their families was organized from 24-26 June 2018.
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Voice of America- station (suspected of being used for intelligence gathering purposes and electronic surveillance of the Indian Ocean).
India and Sri Lanka conclude 12th round of talks on Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) in Colombo, Sri Lanka
The India-Sri Lanka ETCA is being seen as a pivotal move to further enhance bilateral trade between the two countries. Both sides acknowledged the huge potential in India and Sri Lanka trade partnership and the possibilities for enhanced economic relations in areas of mutual interest. India was Sri Lanka's largest trading partner with an overall bilateral merchandise trade of 5.45 billion dollars in 2021.
Petroleum Project, $1.5 Billion of FDI: Will Cash-Strapped Sri Lanka Fall into China’s Trap Once Again?
A petroleum refinery project at geo-strategic and sensitive southern port city in the Rajapaksa family stronghold of Hambantota has gone to China
The ferry service operates from Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and chug to Kankesanthurai in Jaffna, northern Sri Lanka. Launched on October 14, the vessel, a high speed craft is named ‘Cheriyapani’.
The RESTORED maiden voyage of Cheriyapani is much more than a transportation milestone. It is a testament to the enduring significance of human interaction.
Time was Indo-Ceylon Express sailed between Thoothukkudi and Colombo through the then Madras. It symbolised regional connectivity and cooperation
The outbreak of civil war in the idyllic island country in 1982 saw to the suspension of the ferry services.
Landmark USD 15 million grant strengthens Buddhist ties between India and Sri Lanka
first project MOU on Solar electrification of religious places in Sri Lanka.
India will collaborate with Sri Lanka on debt treatment
Sri Lanka must bring its major creditors including China, India, and Japan, on board for a debt treatment plan agreeable to all, in order to unlock the second tranche of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Extended Fund Facility (EFF).
SBI became the first foreign Bank in Sri Lanka to successfully launch pathbreaking direct LKR-INR trade
the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payment system will soon be launched in SRILANKA
Naam-200
an event to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Indian-origin Tamils in Sri Lanka,
Announcement of land and housing rights for plantation workers.
Introduction of the ‘Upcountry Charter’ addressing gender equality, health, and development.
Continued Indian assistance through grants for community development projects.
Commemorative activities to raise awareness and honor the community’s history.
The Plight of Malaiyaha Tamils
They have faced severe discrimination and poor living conditions historically.
Significant delays and challenges in obtaining Sri Lankan citizenship.
Economic backbone in the tea industry, yet remain one of the poorest communities.
Military exercise:
Shi Yan 6, the vessel of Chinese Navy, docked on October 26 to carry out what Colombo said maritime survey with Sri Lanka’s National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) in their Exclusive Economic Zone
A PLA warship, Hai Yang 24 Hao had docked at Colombo port on August 10 for a formal port call, again overlooking India’s protest.
Similarly, in 2022, Yuan Wang 5, ballistic missile and satellite tracking Chinese ship, had docked at Hambantota port, inviting strong reactions from Delhi.
The Sri Lankan government has confirmed that it has concluded a preliminary deal with China on the restructuring of its debts to Beijing, seen as a "big step" in the cash-strapped country's economic recovery.
china holds about 52 per cent of Sri Lanka's USD 46 billion external credit.
India Abstains As UN Human Rights Body Adopts Resolution On Sri Lanka in 2022,
India stressed that it will work with Sri Lanka and the international community to attain the related objectives of legitimate aspirations of Tamils of Sri Lanka and prosperity for all Sri Lankans.।
In the years following independence, the Sinhalese, who resented British favoritism toward Tamils during the colonial period, disenfranchised Tamil migrant plantation workers from India and
made Sinhala the official language
Buddhism is one of the strongest pillars connecting the two nations and civilizations from the time when the Great Indian Emperor Ashoka sent his children Arhat Mahinda and Their Sangamitta to spread the teachings of Lord Buddha at the request of King Devanampiya Tissa of Sri Lanka.
The People of Indian Origin (PIOs) comprise Sindhis, Borahs, Gujaratis, Memons, Parsis, Malayalis and Telugu speaking person
Though their numbers are much lesser as compared to Indian Origin
Tamils (IOTs), they are economically prosperous and are well placed.
The IOTs are mostly employed in either tea or rubber plantations in
Central, Uva and Sabaragamuwa Provinces though during the lastdecade, the younger generation has been migrating to Colombo in
search of employment.
As ethnic tension grew, in 1976, the LTTE was formed under the
leadership of Velupillai Prabhakaran, and it began to campaign for a Tamil homeland in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, where most of
the island’s Tamils reside.
In the 1970s–1980s, the RAW and the state government of Tamil
Nadu were believed to be encouraging the funding and training for LTTE
In 1987, faced with growing anger amongst its own Tamils, and a
flood of refugees India intervened directly in the conflict for the first
This was after the Sri Lankan government attempted to regain
control of the northern Jaffna region by means of an economic blockade and military assaults; India supplied food and medicine by
air and sea
In the years following independence, the Sinhalese, who resented
British favoritism toward Tamils during the colonial period, disenfranchised Tamil migrant plantation workers from India and
made Sinhala the official language
The earliest mention of Sri Lanka dates back to the time of the Ramayana. Ravana, the king of Lanka, who held Sita captive in Lanka, was rescued by Ram with the help of Hanuman.
The native people of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) were colonially under the British. In 1815, the population composition of Sri Lanka was 3 million Sinhalese Buddhists and 300,000 Tamil Hindus.
From the 1830s onwards, the British started transporting indentured labour from India, especially from Tamil Nadu, to Ceylon to work on tea plantations. The Tamils who the British transported settled in the northern part of Ceylon.
present composition
A 2001 government census says Sri Lanka’s main ethnic populations are the Sinhalese (82%), Tamil (9.4%), and Sri Lanka Moor (7.9%)
There are two types of Tamils in Sri Lanka
Ceylonese Tamils
– Their population is estimated to be 2.5 million.
– They are concentrated in Jaffna and the northern & eastern coast.
Indian Tamils
– Their population is estimated to be ~ 1 million.
– They are concentrated in the districts of Colombo, Kandy & Trincomalee in traditional tea garden areas.
– Tamils whose forefathers were taken by Britishers as plantation workers.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of Seas (UNCLOS) changed the situation under which all the rights of Indian fishermen were taken away. Since then, Indian fishermen have been facing issues with Lankan authorities.
In 1991, Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution demanding the retrieval of Katchatheevu Island from Sri Lanka and making the fishing grounds around the island accessible to the Tamil fisherman.
In 2008, the AIDMK filed a petition in the Supreme Court (SC) asking that the SC declare the 1974 and 1976 agreements unconstitutional.
In 2014, the Union Government informed the Madras High Court that Sri Lankan sovereignty over the Katchatheevu island is a settled matter, and Indian fisherman doesn’t enjoy any fishing rights in the Sri Lankan waters.
Defence Cooperation
India has trained many Sri Lankan officials at the National Defence Academy and India Military Academy.
India and Sri-Lankan navy and coast guards constantly undertake intelligence sharing.
India and Sri Lankan armies conduct joint military exercises such as MITRA, SHAKTI, IN-SLN etc.
India and Sri Lanka conduct joint Military (Mitra Shakti) and Naval exercise (SLINEX).
India has trained many Sri Lankan officials at the National Defence Academy and India Military Academy.
India and Sri-Lankan navy and coast guards constantly undertake intelligence sharing.
OTHER TRADE
India exports petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, two-wheelers and vegetables while imports rubber products, spices and electric wires.
Indian firms operational in Sri Lanka include Tata, Jet Airways, Ashoka Leyland, Ceat, Apollo etc.
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) plans to establish a six million ton per annum refinery in Sri Lanka.
Issue regarding CEPA
Sri Lanka fears that Indian firms may ultimately dominate the Lankan economic space and might eventually lead to the loss of jobs for the Sri Lankan native population.
India envisages services based cooperation in CEPA. However, Sri Lanka has had expressed some reservations. It hopes for more economic and technical cooperation than the increased movement of Indian professionals in Sri Lanka.।
India is building
Ramayana trail in Sri Lanka and
Buddhist circuit in India (Sinhalese are Buddhist).
Rabindranath Tagore had influenced Sri Lankan national anthem – “Sri Lanka Matha” (we salute mother, Sri Lanka).
GEOPOLITICAL
XIII Amendment
It was the direct outcome of the Accord of 1987, and its terms were as follows:-
Divide entire Sri Lanka into provinces.
Adoption of the Federal System and give more powers to states.
Remove Sinhalese Only Language Act and give equal status to the Tamil language.
Land and Police should be provincial subjects.
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These changes can strengthen Sinhalese nationalist sentiments and can further dilute the 13thAmendment.
What is India doing to counter this?
India is developing Trincomalee as Petroleum Hub and building infrastructure around it.
India is developing Kakesuthai and Trincomalee as a port.
India is developing the Eastern Terminal at Colombo port along with Japan (January 2021 update: Due to large scale demonstration by the trade unions against the privatization, the Sri Lankan government has cancelled this project).
India has decided to lease and manage the Mattala airport in Hambantota. (although, it is the emptiest airport in the world)
India has given a $300 million Line of Credit to upgrade Sri-Lankan Railways.
Indo – Sri Lanka Nuclear Cooperation Agreement has been signed (the first such deal signed by Sri Lanka with any country).
India has given aid of ₹ 5 billion in 2009 to reconstruct Tamil areas destroyed in the Civil War.
Nehru – Kotelawala Agreement, 1953: Under the agreement, India agreed to the repatriation of Sri Lankan Tamils who want to accept Indian citizenship. But at the same time, India rejected the Sri Lankan demand of granting citizenship to all Tamils who failed to qualify for Sri Lankan citizenship.
Shastri – Sirimavo Agreement, 1964: It sought to solve the problem of 9 lakh 75 thousand stateless persons in Sri Lanka using the following formula:
3 lakh people to get Sri Lankan citizenship.
5 lakh 25 thousand to get Indian citizenship in a period spanning over 15 years.
The remaining 1.50 lakh stateless person’s fate was to be decided later.
Rajiv – Jayewardene Agreement (Indo-Sri Lanka Accord), 1987 :
Creation of an autonomous unit comprising northern and eastern provinces (Tamils are concentrated in this area).
Emergency to be lifted from northern and eastern provinces.
Grant of official language status to Tamil, Sinhalese and English.
US is investing more than half a billion dollars in a port terminal in Sri Lanka’s capital being developed by Adani. The financing by the American government's International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is being seen as the US backing Indian interests in Sri Lanka to curtail China’s influence in South Asia. This is the biggest investment so far in Asia by the DFC.
In early 2022, Adani signed MoUs to build 500 megawatts of renewable energy projects in Pooneryn and Mannar,
In 2021, Adani sealed a deal with the state-owned Sri Lanka Ports Authority to develop and run the strategic Colombo Port's Western Container Terminal.
Adani's new port in Kerala at Vizhinjam too will help India compete with China in terms of both trade and manufacturing
Joint Military Exercise #MitraShakti_2023 between #India & #SriLanka will be conducted from 16 to 29 Nov 2023 in #Pune.
The exercise aims to enhance interoperability while sharing best practices between the two Armed
Tamils whose forefathers had gone to Sri Lanka centuries ago.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visited India as part of his first international trip since assuming office
Economic Cooperation- The Sri Lankan president expressed his gratitude for India’s substantial financial assistance aimed stabilizing Sri Lanka’s economy following its severe financial crisis in 2022. The establishment of an electricity grid connection and a multi-product petroleum pipeline between India and Sri Lanka, was also discussed.
Defense and Security Commitments- Dissanayake in a joint statement assured Prime Minister Modi that Sri Lanka would not allow its territory to be used in any manner that could threaten India’s security. This commitment is particularly significant given the rising concerns over China’s influence in the region.
Development Projects- Several development initiatives were announced, such as the Indian Housing Project and renewable energy projects tailored for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka, and India’s assistance in training 1,500 Sri Lankan civil servants over five years.
Regional Stability- The discussions also reaffirmed mutual interests in fostering regional security through platforms like the Colombo Security Conclave.