Why Jaishankar’s upcoming visit to Sri Lanka matters

Colombo: With reports suggesting that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will visit Sri Lanka this month, relations between India and the Indian Ocean island nation are expected to likely see further growth under New Delhi’s neighborhood policy.

While India is yet to officially confirm it, Sri Lankan media reports quoted the country’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry as saying that Jaishankar’s visit would take place “on one of these days this month.”

“I can confirm that India’s foreign minister, Dr. Jaishankar, is expected to arrive in Colombo on one of these days this month,” Sabry told news website Economynext.com.

“He is only coming here to review the ongoing partnership in various areas – renewable energy, tourism, partnership between central banks and partnership between finance ministries, and also to prepare for the upcoming visit of (Indian) Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi. “

According to Foreign Minister Sabry, Sri Lanka wants to continue cooperation with Indians “in the areas of investment, people-to-people contacts, tourism, as well as connectivity such as electricity, as well as land and other areas of maritime connectivity, air connectivity and other ways of doing so.”

Jaishankar last visited Sri Lanka in October 2023 to attend the 23rd Cabinet Meeting and the 25th Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Senior Officials Committee. This will be his first visit to the southern neighbor after becoming foreign minister for the second time in the Modi 3.0 government.

When Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe visited New Delhi earlier this month to attend Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, Jaishankar called the visiting dignitary and expressed his intention to visit the island to discuss ongoing India-backed projects.

Although ties between India and Sri Lanka date back to ancient times, relations between the two sides were further strained when New Delhi released $4 billion in aid in 2022 as the island nation faced an unprecedented financial crisis. India is also Sri Lanka’s largest development assistance partner.

Cooperation in the field of renewable energy

Following the India-Sri Lanka Economic Partnership Vision document signed during Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to New Delhi in July last year, Indian companies are increasingly gaining opportunities to tap the renewable energy potential of this Indian Ocean island nation.

In March this year, the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, the Government of Sri Lanka and Bengaluru-based U Solar Clean Energy Solutions signed an agreement to implement hybrid renewable energy systems in Delft (Neduntheevu), Nainativu and Analaitivu islands in Palk Bay off the coast of Jaffna . The project, which aims to meet the energy needs of the inhabitants of the three islands, is being implemented thanks to grants from the Government of India (GoI). The hybrid design combines various forms of energy, including solar and wind, to optimize efficiency. Three facilities with a total renewable capacity of 2,230 KW will receive funding from an $11 million grant from the Government of India.

It is worth mentioning here that the contract for all three facilities was originally awarded to the Chinese company Sinosoar in January 2021, after a tender in accordance with the guidelines of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which was to grant a loan for this purpose. However, New Delhi has raised security concerns as the facilities are located just 50 km from India’s southern coast. As a result, the Sri Lankan government took away these projects from the Chinese company and handed them over to the Indian company U Solar Clean Energy Solutions.

India’s National Thermal Power Corporation and Adani Group are also working on other renewable energy projects in various parts of Sri Lanka.

Interpersonal and tourist bonds

The historical and cultural bond between India and Sri Lanka dates back millennia and is deeply rooted in a shared heritage of historical events, cultural practices and religious traditions. Buddhism in particular was a key thread that wove the two nations together. In the 3rd century BC, Prince Mahendra and Princess Sanghamitra, children of Emperor Ashoka, brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka, initiating a profound exchange of religious and cultural influences that continued for centuries.

The Ramayana, one of the two major Indian epics, also reinforces these bonds, and many places in Sri Lanka are associated with this narrative. These mythological and historical connections constitute a significant part of the collective consciousness of both countries, fostering mutual respect and understanding.

In April this year, the launch of the Ramayana Trails project commemorated a historic milestone in Indo-Sri Lankan cultural and religious ties.

The aim of the Ramayana Trail is to highlight nine significant sites mentioned in the Ramayana, spread across Sri Lanka.

“By offering a spiritual and cultural journey to Indian pilgrims and travelers alike, the initiative aims to attract millions of tourists from India and abroad to the country,” said a statement issued by the Office of the President of Sri Lanka. “Its overarching goal is to enhance the nation’s spiritual and cultural heritage while supporting the tourism sector.”

According to the statement, in addition to providing access to these sacred sites, the project aims to provide visitors with an immersive experience by showcasing ancient spiritual events associated with these venerable sanctuaries, brought to life through cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR).

“From Adam’s Bridge in the Mannar Basin to Seetha Eliya in Nuwara Eliya, each place mentioned in the epic Ramayana has been carefully selected for inclusion in this pilgrimage endeavor,” the statement said.

Indians constitute one of the largest groups of foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka, attracted by the island’s scenic beauty, cultural heritage and Buddhist sites. Sri Lankan tourists also visit India in large numbers, mainly for pilgrimages to Buddhist sites such as Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar, as well as for medical tourism and recreation.

Maintaining people-to-people ties, India and Sri Lanka conduct vibrant educational exchanges. Many Sri Lankan students pursue higher education in India with the help of scholarships provided by the Government of India. Institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) attract students from Sri Lanka. Additionally, Indian cultural centers in Sri Lanka offer courses in Indian languages, music, dance and yoga, further strengthening cultural ties.

Land connectivity problems between India and Sri Lanka

On Sunday, President Wickremesinghe said a feasibility study on establishing a land link with India was nearing completion, news agency PTI reported. During his visit to Mannar to inspect the regional development, Wickremesinghe mentioned that the initial phase of feasibility study had been done and the final phase would be completed soon.

The proposed route would connect Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, India, with Talaimannar in Sri Lanka. This route uses the existing Adam’s Bridge (or Ram Setu), a chain of natural limestone shallows that provides a relatively shallow and stable footing.

Connectivity to the power grid of India and Sri Lanka

Power grid connections between India and Sri Lanka hold great promise in enhancing energy security, supporting economic growth and promoting regional cooperation. The basic proposal is to build a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) link between India and Sri Lanka. HVDC technology is suitable for long-distance transmission and can transmit energy efficiently with minimal losses.

The proposed HVDC link route would connect the southern state of Tamil Nadu in India with the northern region of Sri Lanka, possibly extending through the Palk Strait. This involves laying an undersea cable through the Palk Strait.

According to PTI, Jaishankar’s visit is expected to discuss the proposal and potential of power grid interconnection between the two countries. A commercial venture involving the sale of surplus renewable energy to India will also be on the agenda.