UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 08th April 2025

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India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Defence Relations

Why in News?

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka marked a significant step in enhancing bilateral defence ties and reaffirming cooperation on regional security, Tamil reconciliation, and the fisheries dispute.

Introduction

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a three-day trip to Sri Lanka from April 4 to 6, 2025 — his first trip to the island nation after 2019.
The visit was in the wake of a new political setup in Colombo under the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) government, headed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
In spite of previous concerns regarding the JVP’s past anti-India position, the visit represented a major intensification of India-Sri Lanka relations.

Major Outcomes of the Visit

Deepening Strategic and Defence Relations
- A historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation was signed — the first in the history of India-Sri Lanka bilateral relations.
- The MoU aims to formalise and enhance military cooperation, especially in the context of shared maritime security concerns in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- PM Modi emphasised that the security of India and Sri Lanka is interconnected and co-dependent, underlining New Delhi’s regional security doctrine.
Symbolic and Diplomatic Recognition
- Sri Lanka granted its top foreign leaders’ civilian honour to PM Modi — an act marking an expansion of bilateral trust and friendship.
- Such honour reflected a divergence from historical wariness relating to the political thought of the JVP, exemplifying the openness of the NPP towards recalibrating foreign policy orientation.
Recurrence to Non-Alignment in Security
- President Dissanayake reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s stand that its soil would not be utilized against India’s interests — a restatement of the 1987 Indo-Lanka agreement pertaining to ports such as Trincomalee.
- Even with this assurance, India is still guarded, considering earlier apprehensions about third-country interference in Sri Lankan ports, particularly with China’s increasing role in the area.
Resolving the Fishermen’s Issue
- Detailed bilateral discussions were held on the long-standing fishermen’s dispute in the Palk Bay, which frequently causes tension, especially affecting Tamil Nadu.
- A recent meeting between fisherfolk from both sides was welcomed, but PM Modi’s visit is expected to pave the way for structured and sustained dialogue, ideally involving both communities and government officials.
- A flexible, humane, and cooperative approach is essential to finding a long-term resolution.
Reviving the Tamil Issue and the Indo-Lanka Agreement
- Tamil political parties interacted with PM Modi and recognized the value of the Indo-Lanka Agreement (1987) as a guide to the political devolution and autonomy to be attained.
- They also appealed for India’s “legitimate involvement” in ensuring a political resolution for Tamils, particularly in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
- India, with its ability to provide liberal economic assistance, can act as a positive force as a neutral mediator, calling upon all the parties to engage in democratic debate and consensus.

Conclusion

PM Modi’s 2025 visit to Sri Lanka signaled a maturing of bilateral ties, where strategic, economic, and ethnic issues were discussed with greater openness and pragmatism.
As both countries navigate a complex regional environment, strengthening mutual trust, ensuring inclusive development, and respecting each other’s security concerns will be key to sustaining this renewed partnership.