India-Sri Lanka Recent Relations
India-Sri Lanka Economic Partnership Vision - lays out the vision in five areas: maritime, air, energy, trade and people-to-people initiatives.
New investments in maritime and air connectivity will involve
Developing ports and airports in Sri Lanka,
Resuming ferry services and
Expanding flight networks to connect Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern Provinces.
Energy connectivity – developing renewable energy wind and solar plants in Sri Lanka.
Both hope to increase trade, and continue Indian support for Sri Lanka’s economy.
A memorandum of understanding was signed to operationalise UPI digital payments in Sri Lanka and to designate the Indian Rupee as currency for trade.
They also agreed to explore ways of enhancing tourism and cultural and religious travel, and educational collaboration.
Issues
Killing of Fishermen: Killing of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy is a lingering issue between these two nations.
13A constitutional amendment for devolution of powers to the North and Eastern provinces in Sri Lanka.
Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Sri Lanka to meet Tamil aspirations and fulfill its commitment to implement the 13th Amendment, Sri Lanka’s ruling party rejected the prospect, contending that President Ranil Wickremesinghe had no mandate for it.
Influence of China: China’s rapidly growing economic footprint (and political clout as a corollary) in Sri Lanka is straining India-Sri Lanka relations.
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