Sri Lanka recognising perils of China-dependence, expert on Sri Lankan foreign minister's visit to India

Reflecting upon Sri Lankan Foreign Minister GL Peiris' visit to India, professor Harsh V Pant on Tuesday said it indicated rapidly evolving ties between India and Sri Lanka, as well as that under the Rajapaksa regime, the island nation was recognizing the perils of over-dependence on China, Chandrakala Chaudhary reports for ETV Bharat.

New Delhi: Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla on Tuesday called on Sri Lankan Foreign Minister GL Peiris, who is on a three-day official visit to New Delhi. Both the leaders discussed ways of boosting relationships in multiple spheres. The visit comes at a time the island nation is facing a severe economic crisis and also when China is flexing its muscles in the region. There is a new twist in the tug of war between India and China over Sri Lanka.

Taking to Twitter, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla called on the visiting Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Prof. GL. Peiris. Discussed strengthening of the relationship in multiple spheres including a people-centric development partnership”.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Professor Harsh V Pant, Director, Research at Observer Research Foundation (ORF) said, “India’s role in Sri Lanka remains very important and Sri Lanka even under the Rajapaksa regime today is recognizing that over-reliance on China can produce some unintended consequences, which can create the whole host of problems for Sri Lanka”.

“India’s ties with Sri Lanka are evolving rapidly. We always look at the Chinese influence in Sri Lanka with some degree of concern but what is also happening in Sri Lanka, is the awareness that ‘over-dependence’ on ‘China’s economic model’ is detrimental to Sri Lankan interest. Whether it is the fertilizer controversy or the high debt, which is leading to very uncertain times in the Sri Lankan economy, there is a realization that one cannot put all the eggs in the Chinese basket. Sri Lanka needs India as a strong and stable partner. Therefore, the outreach to India has been quite extensive. There have been extensive consultations in the last few months between India and Sri Lanka”, he said.

Read:Shringla holds talk with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister GL Peiris

Prof Pant underlined that Sri Lanka has asked for economic support and India has agreed to provide loans and credits to Sri Lanka, so that they can tide over this crisis. It may be recalled that India also helped the island nation in tiding over the fertilizer crisis, which at one time was very acute. The visit of the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister also comes days after the Sri Lankan government signed a $500 million Line of Credit (LOC) agreement with India for the purchase of petroleum products. The first tranche will be used to buy 80,000 tonnes of petrol and diesel from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).

As Sri Lanka’s alarming economic crisis has increased foreign debts, India has come out in its support. Meanwhile, China is leaving no stone unturned to extend its influence beyond the economic and the bilateral aspect. China is making fresh attempts to woo the Tamils in northern Sri Lanka, especially through the fishermen crisis. This has raised eyebrows in India as it has been the traditional power there.

On being asked if China extending its influence over the ethnic Tamils is a matter of concern for New Delhi given its ties with Sri Lanka, Professor Pant said, “Of course, China is trying to expand its influence over the ethnic Tamils but I think Chinese understanding of the Tamil question is still something that one doesn’t know much about. India should be cautious and watchful. After all, what India understands about the Tamils in Sri Lanka is very organic. In some ways, the ethnic Tamil question in Sri Lanka is historically linked in ways, India can manage without making a big deal about it. China, on the other hand, would have to start from scratch".

"India needs to support the best possible ways in which the Tamil aspirations, sentiments can be protected in Sri Lanka and help in the reconstruction and recovery of the Tamil dominated regions”, he added.

Read: Tamil Nadu:Stalin writes to PM Modi over Sri Lanka auctioning Indian fishermen's boats

On Monday, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar met Sri Lankan Foreign Minister GL Peiris in New Delhi and discussed prospects of economic investment initiatives to strengthen the island nation and exchanged views on the fishermen's issues. In the meeting, Dr. S Jaishankar has requested his counterpart for the early release of Indian fishermen detained by Sri Lanka.

Both the leaders also focused on additional steps to enhance Sri Lanka’s energy security. They recognized the importance of greater tourism for economic recovery and noted the importance of P2P linkages through greater connectivity. Sri Lanka's Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa visited New Delhi in December last year. His trip primarily focused on measures concerning the economic crisis faced by the island nation.