WHY IS PM MODI's VISIT TO SRI LANKA  IMPORTANT?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Colombo on a three-day (April 4-6, 2025) visit to Sri Lanka after attending the sixth BIMSTEC summit, where he was given a warm welcome. He was also given a guard of honor at Colombo's Independence Square. Tabla player Pesala Manoj also arrived to welcome him in Colombo.

This is his first visit to Sri Lanka after 2019 and fourth since 2015. This is also the first visit of a foreign leader after the change of power in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is a small country in size but strategically very important.

Sri Lanka is located at a very important place in the Indian Ocean. Many important strategic locations of India can be monitored from Sri Lanka. This is the reason why India is concerned about the growing influence of China in Sri Lanka.

Therefore, the purpose of the visit is to increase defense relations and reduce the growing influence of China. Apart from this, this island country can overcome the economic crisis with this visit. Three years ago, Sri Lanka was facing a major economic crisis and India gave it financial assistance of US $ 4.5 billion.

 

 

INAUGURATION OF THE MAHO OMANTHAI RAILWAY LINE 

PM Modi inaugurated the Maho Omanthai railway line and laid the foundation stone of the signal system in the Buddhist pilgrimage Anuradhapura. This railway line between the Maho district and Omanthai district of Sri Lanka is a 128 km long part of the Northern Railway Line. It passes through the Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, and Vavuniya districts of Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan government has launched several projects to modernize and improve this railway line. Indian public sector company IRCON International Limited is working on the development of this section. India has given a loan of $ 318 million (Rs 2720 crore) for this project.

 

 

FISHERMEN ISSUE BETWEEN INDIA AND SRI LANKA 

Bilateral talks were held between PM Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. During this, Modi raised the issue of the livelihood of Indian fishermen who are under arrest and talked of the immediate release of them and their boats on humanitarian grounds and also laid stress on implementing all the rights given to them under the Sri Lankan Constitution.

This sensitive issue involving fishermen is a long-standing dispute between India and Sri Lanka, primarily related to traditional fishing rights and maritime boundary violations. Fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka fish in the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar. The area is rich in marine biodiversity, but India and Sri Lanka have demarcated maritime boundaries, and violating them is considered an international crime. Often, Tamil Nadu fishermen enter Sri Lankan waters to catch fish.

 

 

FOUR MAJOR REASONS FOR THE DISPUTE

 

1. Claim of traditional fishing: Indian fishermen say that they have been fishing in these water areas for centuries, and this is their traditional right.

2. Kachchatheevu Island: An agreement was signed between India and Sri Lanka in 1974 in which Kachchatheevu Island was given to Sri Lanka, and the maritime boundaries of the two countries were fixed. However, fishermen still question it.

3. Use of trawlers: Indian fishermen use motor-driven trawlers. Sri Lankan fishermen oppose this, as it affects their livelihood.

4. Action of Sri Lankan Navy: When Indian fishermen enter Sri Lankan waters, they are arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy. Their boats are seized, and many times incidents of violence also occur.

 

 

INCREASING THE RIGHTS OF THE TAMIL COMMUNITY

On 29 July 1987, an agreement was signed between the governments of India and Sri Lanka. In this, Sri Lanka had promised that it would give all the rights to the Tamils ​​of the country under the 13th amendment of the Constitution. It was said in the agreement that under the 13th amendment, state councils will be formed and Tamils ​​will also be given a place in them on the basis of numbers.

However, this agreement has not been implemented till now. Due to this, Tamils ​​have not been able to become a part of the power and system of Sri Lanka. Due to this, there is resentment among the Tamil people of Sri Lanka. About three years ago, the leaders of seven Tamil parties in Sri Lanka had written a letter to PM Modi and said that the Government of India should raise their issue before the Sri Lankan government.

This is the reason why Modi insisted on the complete implementation of the Constitution in Sri Lanka and holding Provision Council elections to fulfill the aspirations of the Tamils.

Besides the above, seven agreements were signed between the two countries during PM Modi's visit to Sri Lanka:

 

1. SAMPUR POWER PROJECT: The two leaders also virtually conducted the groundbreaking ceremony for the Sampur power project, which will be built with Indian support, with a focus on developing Trincomalee as an energy hub. The Sampur Solar Power Plant will help in Sri Lanka's energy security. All the people of Sri Lanka will benefit from the agreements signed for building a multi-product pipeline and developing Trincomalee as an energy hub.

2. DEFENCE COOPERATION: This will be a major step forward in defense relations between the two countries. Maritime security is an important issue, and it is well accepted that we are in the same region and our security is interlinked. On this basis, we are taking our cooperation forward. The agreements that were reached during President Dissanayake's visit to India, this visit of Prime Minister Modi has worked to take them forward and add new aspects to bilateral relations.

Also, this agreement was necessary to reduce China's influence in the sea. The bitter chapter related to India's withdrawal of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) from Sri Lanka about 35 years ago was left behind. China's military influence in Sri Lanka has increased rapidly. Due to this, India is trying to increase its defense relations with Sri Lanka so that China cannot make inroads.

3. COOPERATION IN THE ENERGY SECTOR: An agreement on cooperation in the energy sector has been signed between India, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates. Trincomalee, with its natural harbor and energy facilities, is of strategic importance to India as a strong presence there will help India expand its influence in the northeastern Indian Ocean.

4. MULTI-SECTORAL GRANT ASSISTANCE FOR EASTERN PROVINCE: Modi announced a support package of about 2.4 billion Sri Lankan rupees for the social and economic development of Sri Lanka’s eastern provinces. The agreement will provide immediate assistance and relief to the people of Sri Lanka. Under this agreement, it has also been decided to reduce the rate of interest.

5. COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH AND MEDICINE: The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission and Sri Lanka’s National Medicines Regulatory Authority entered into an MoU to promote cooperation in the area of pharmacopeia standards and practices.

6. INDIA’S PARTICIPATION IN THE UNIQUE DIGITAL IDENTITY PROJECT: This MoU will allow India to share its digital solutions with Sri Lanka to support its digital transformation.

7. A PROJECT TO SUPPLY SOLAR ROOFTOP SYSTEMS: The two leaders virtually inaugurated a project to supply solar rooftop systems to 5,000 religious institutions across Sri Lanka with India’s credit assistance of $17 million. The project will benefit Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim shrines and generate 25 MW of green power.

 

 

SRI LANKA MITRA VIBHUSHAN SAMMAN

 

PM Modi was awarded the highest civilian honour of the Government of Sri Lanka which is given to foreign dignitaries who have maintained a special friendship with Sri Lanka. It would not be surprising to say that this honor is proof of the visionary leadership ability of the Prime Minister, his policy of strongly preserving global relations, and his commitment to strongly carry forward India's tradition of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'.

This honor shows that today India has made its strong identity on the global stage not only as a powerful nation but also as a sensitive and reliable friendly nation. Modi said that this honor is not only my honor, but it is the honor of 140 crore Indians. It is an honor of the historical relations and deep friendship between the people of India and Sri Lanka.

India-Sri Lanka relations are at their strongest level ever and in the future both the countries will establish new dimensions of bilateral cooperation. India and Sri Lanka are the closest neighbors, especially maritime neighbors. The relationship between the two is very deep historically, geographically, and culturally.

The mutual relations between the two are also very strong. There is an understanding between the two countries that our future is shared. The President of Sri Lanka assured PM Modi that he would not allow his territory to be used against India's security interests.