India must continue to engage Sri Lanka beyond mere transactional deals
- India and Sri Lanka have agreed to jointly revive a World War II era oil storage facility in the strategically located eastern port town and build infrastructure around it
- Traditional political concerns in Sri Lanka, where scores of Tamils and Muslims in the north and east are yet to return to normal lives eight years after the civil war ended
- As a long-time negotiator in Sri Lanka’s political question, India must continue to closely engage on these fronts and build a holistic relationship that transcends the mere transactional
- India should explore the potential for generating livelihoods in the war-battered northern economy where agriculture and fisheries, its key drivers, are facing a crisis
- Resolving the long-standing Palk Bay conflict between fishermen of both countries is central to this, and New Delhi must address the valid concern of Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen about incursions from Tamil Nadu into Sri Lankan waters
- Should avoid using the China lens to view Sri Lanka, respecting the country’s autonomy to engage with any willing partner
- The more India treats Sri Lanka as an equal partner, the stronger the relationship is likely to grow