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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 06th April 2025

Home / UPSC / Current Affairs / PM Modi Conferred ‘Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana’: Significance of the Honour

PM Modi Conferred ‘Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana’: Significance of the Honour

PM Modi Conferred ‘Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana’

Why in News?

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the ‘Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana’, the highest civilian honour that Sri Lanka awards to a foreign Head of State or Government, by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake recently.
  • This award is a symbol of the enduring friendship and diplomatic goodwill between India and Sri Lanka.
PM Modi Conferred ‘Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana’: Significance of the Honour

About the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana

  • The Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana was instituted in 2008 by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
  • It is exclusively conferred upon foreign Heads of State or Government with whom Sri Lanka shares cordial and cooperative diplomatic relations.
  • The award is regarded as Sri Lanka’s highest civilian honour for foreigners and is ranked above other national honours conferred on non-citizens, including the Sri Lanka Rathna.
  • It consists of a silver medal adorned with Navaratna gems, symbolic elements like the Dharma Chakra, Pun Kalasa, Sun and Moon, and is accompanied by a formal citation.

Design and Symbolism

  • The award comprises:
    • A silver medal studded with Navarathna (nine Sri Lankan gems).
    • A Pun Kalasa (ceremonial pot with rice sheaves) at the centre – a symbol of prosperity and renewal, akin to Indian traditions during Sankranti.
    • Dharma Chakra – reflecting the shared Buddhist heritage of India and Sri Lanka.
    • Sun and Moon symbols – representing endurance and timelessness.
  • Comes with a citation and is worn around the neck with a 6.5 cm wide ribbon.

Past Recipients

Only four individuals have received this honour to date:

  1. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, former President of Maldives (2008).
  2. Mahmoud Abbas, President of Palestine (2014).
  3. Yasser Arafat (posthumously) – Former President of Palestine.
  4. Narendra Modi – Prime Minister of India (2025), becoming the first Indian recipient.

Geopolitical and Diplomatic Significance

The conferment of the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana on the Indian Prime Minister reflects the enduring and multifaceted nature of India–Sri Lanka bilateral relations, which rest upon:

  • Political Goodwill: Strong diplomatic engagement marked by regular high-level visits, mutual support in multilateral forums, and a commitment to regional stability.
  • Cultural and Civilisational Ties: Shared heritage through Buddhism, language linkages (Tamil community in both countries), and deep-rooted people-to-people connections.
  • Strategic and Maritime-Security Cooperation: Joint efforts in naval diplomacy, maritime surveillance, defence training, and collaboration under India’s SAGAR doctrine to secure the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Additional Information

India’s Neighbourhood First Policy

  • Objective: To prioritise relations with India’s immediate neighbours and enhance regional cooperation through diplomacy, trade, connectivity, and cultural ties.
  • Key Features:
    • Strengthening political dialogue and strategic engagement with SAARC and BIMSTEC nations.
    • Deepening economic integration via energy partnerships, infrastructure development, and trade agreements.
    • Promoting people-to-people linkages through education, tourism, and cultural exchange.
    • Offering development assistance and humanitarian aid, especially during crises (e.g., COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy, aid to Sri Lanka, Nepal earthquake response).

 

SAGAR Doctrine (Security and Growth for All in the Region)

  • Announced in 2015, SAGAR is India’s maritime strategic vision for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
  • Core Principles:
    • Maritime security cooperation with regional and extra-regional navies.
    • Enhancing blue economy, sustainable development, and marine resource sharing.
    • Promoting disaster risk management, HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief), and climate resilience.
    • Upholding a rules-based maritime order under UNCLOS and supporting freedom of navigation.

Recent Goodwill Gestures

In a gesture of goodwill coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025, both nations undertook measures to address the fishermen issue:​

  • Release of Sri Lankan Fishermen by Tamil Nadu Government: On April 5, 2025, the Tamil Nadu government facilitated the release of two Sri Lankan fishermen and their boat, who had been detained by the Indian Coast Guard on March 20, 2025. This move was aimed at reinforcing humanitarian approaches to maritime issues and strengthening bilateral relations. ​
  • Sri Lanka’s Release of Indian Fishermen: In a reciprocal act, Sri Lanka released 11 Indian fishermen who had been detained since February 2025. This action was seen as a gesture to enhance the cordial relations between the two countries during PM Modi’s visit

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