Along with the signing of the MoUs, Prime Minister of India was also honoured with Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana award, highest Sri Lankan honour for foreign leaders.
Key Outcomes of the visit
- Defence cooperation: As an umbrella agreement framework to pursue ongoing defence sector cooperation in a more structured manner.
- Also, Sri Lankan President reaffirmed no use of its territory against India, addressing concerns over China’s regional influence.
- Energy cooperation: Grid connection for power trade and Trincomalee energy hub development with UAE.
- Other sectors: Indian support to Sri Lanka in digitisation, health, development of Eastern Province, etc., along with lowering the interest rates on loans.
Importance of Sri Lanka for India
- Strategic and Geopolitical: Sri Lanka is vital to India’s ‘MAHASAGAR Vision’ due to its proximity to key Indian Ocean shipping lanes.
- MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) aims to strengthen ties with smaller states, enhancing maritime domain awareness and curbing illegal activities.
- Economic: India’s Free Trade Agreement with Sri Lanka (1998) boosted bilateral trade to USD 5.5 billion (India’s exports USD 4.1 billion) in 2023-24.
- Culture: Strong people to people ties since Ashoka’s time. E.g., the sacred Bodhi tree at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple is believed to have grown from a sapling brought by Sangamitta Maha Theri (Ashoka’s daughter) from India in the 3rd Century BCE.
Challenges in India-Sri Lanka Relations
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