Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayke has pledged that Colombo will not permit any activities or operations in its territory which might adversely affect India’s security interests. The pledge was made during a visit to Colombo by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to further improve the defence cooperation between both countries.
India and Sri Lanka inked three agreements to boost defence cooperation between the two countries. Part of the agreement is to upgrade the L70 air-defence guns that India has supplied and are now in the hands of Sri Lankan Air Force. The other two are cooperation between the British and the Indian National Cadet Corps (NCC) and National Defence Colleges (NDC).
This is coming at a time when India has long security worries about strategic infrastructure initiatives in countries around it backed by Chinese money. Some of the projects like Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port, given a 99 year lease contract to China’s port company in 2017, where Colombo found it difficult to service the loan, have already raised concerns in New Delhi.
Whereas, Singh and Dissanayake also virtually opened three Bailey bridges built by the Indian army in Sri Lanka.
In an address at the meeting, Dissanayake expressed gratitude of India for their support in Operation Sagar Bandhu after Cyclone Ditwah. He likewise thanked India for its elaborate rehabilitation package to help the rehabilitation process in the island country.
Singh said India and Sri Lanka as close neighbours and maritime partners had reiterated their efforts towards ‘development and welfare of our people’ in their communication.
He additionally emphasized both sides’ firm backing of the security, peace, safety and prosperity of the wider region through enhancing cooperation.