The increasing affinity between Srilanka and China nowadays has not been well received by the Indian political establishment. Do you believe that the strong cultural and historical ties between India and Srilanka could be a game changer?
The increasing affinity between Srilanka and China nowadays has not been well received by the Indian political establishment. Do you believe that the strong cultural and historical ties between India and Srilanka could be a game changer?
- Srilanka’s warm acceptance of China’s BRI project, 99 year lease of Hambantota port to a Chinese company and the like have been viewed with apprehension by India. It is quite apparent that China views Srilanka as its cardinal dice for the success of its string of pearls strategy.
Cultural and Historical ties between India and Sri-Lanka:
- Buddhism, Hinduism, ethnic Tamils, India’s support for quelling LTTE, historical maritime trade relations between the two could be used as important threads for knitting the better relationship between two.
- However, the cultural and historical ties alone could not be taken as a game changer. They have their own limitations. Hence it warrants a strong multidimensional relationship between the two.
- Though China and Srilanka are not that much historically connected when compared to Indo-Srilanka relationship, China was able to have a strong foothold in Srilanka only with the help of its strong economic and political muscle.
Need of the Hour:
- In the same way, India need to put in humongous resources and political will to win over the srilankan political establishment and its people.
- The successful completion of India’s infrastructure projects in Sri lanka like Sampur Thermal project, Indian Housing Project will be a good starter.
- India should immediately finalise the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) to boost its economic ties with Columbo
- Also India should upgrade its commitment in the domain of low-interest loans, maritime cooperation and the like for ensuring a smooth relationship with Columbo.
- The little irritants like fishing disputes and allegations of RAW’s involvement in Srilanka should be fixed at the earliest.
Road Ahead:
- Hence the strong political and economic relationship supplemented with soft powers like religious, cultural and historical affinity between the two will ensure a huge success to India’s Necklace of Diamond’s strategy.
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