India-Sri Lanka Relations

From a geostrategic standpoint, Sri Lanka's location in the Indian Ocean is critical as major commercial sea routes pass around the country.

  • In terms of transportation, about two-thirds of the world's oil and half of the world's container shipment pass via Sri Lanka's southern coast, making it crucial for the security of Indian Ocean sea lines of communication.

Issues with India-Sri Lanka Relations

China’s Intervention

  • The fast expansion of China's economic footprint in Sri Lanka is putting strain on India-Sri Lanka relations.
  • On a 99-year lease, Sri Lanka turned over the vital port of Hambantota to China, which is expected to play a key part in China's Belt and Road Initiative. The port is viewed as a part of China’s String of Pearls Strategy.
  • Sri Lanka has chosen to create a Special Economic Zone and a new economic commission surrounding the port city of Colombo, both of which would be funded by China.

Katchatheevu Island Issue

  • It is an uninhabited island that India handed over to Sri Lanka in 1974. Due to the presence of a Catholic shrine, Sri Lanka later proclaimed Katchatheevu a sacred territory.
  • As per the agreement, the central government respects Sri Lanka's sovereignty over the island. However, Tamil Nadu claims that Katchatheevu is part of Indian territory, thus, they want to keep their fishing rights.

13th Amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution

  • In 1987, the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord was struck in order to find a political settlement to the conflict in Sri Lanka. It calls for the devolution of required powers to province councils in order to satisfy the Tamil people's just demand for equality, justice, peace, and respect within a united Sri Lanka. The Thirteenth Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution incorporated the terms of this agreement. However, the provisions have yet to be applied on the ground.

Way Forward

  • India and Sri Lanka must look for ways to boost people-to-people contacts.
  • Both countries could work together to boost private investments in order to boost economic resilience.
  • Platforms such as Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Security and Growth for all in the Region (SAGAR), and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) might be used to promote collaboration.
  • India should advocate a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • It is need of the hour that India’s strategic interests in the Indian Ocean region must be protected by maintaining ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy with Sri Lanka.
  • India should continue working on the Kankesanturai port in Jaffna and the oil tank farm project in Trincomalee to contain China’s expanding role in Sri Lanka.

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