Pathfinder Foundation and Vivekananda International Foundation to confer on Indo-SL bilateral relations

The Pathfinder Foundation and Vivekananda International Foundation, a leading think tank in India, are due to conduct a webinar today with virtual participation of several experts from both countries on two themes viz. Regional and Geopolitical Environment and International Trade and Economic Relations.

The two delegations will be headed by Pathfinder Foundation Chairman Bernard Goonetilleke and Vivekananda International Foundation Director Dr. Arvind Gupta. Dr. Gupta was the former Deputy National Security Advisor and also functioned as Director General of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA). Foreign Secretary Admiral (Prof.) Jayanath Colombage and Central Bank of Sri Lanka former Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy will provide their perspectives on the two topics of discussion.

Ministry of External Affairs former Secretary (East) Anil Wadhwa and Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India Additional Secretary Sanjay Chadha will speak on behalf of the VIF delegation. In addition, representatives of both governments, think tanks and research organisations will take part in the discussion.

Vivekananda International Foundation is one of several Indian think-tanks that the Pathfinder Foundation has formed links with over the years. The two Foundations signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) in New Delhi on 3 March 2014 following a meeting that Pathfinder Foundation Founder Milinda Moragoda had with VIF then Director Ajit Doval in New Delhi. 

According to the MoI, the two Foundations are expected to work towards enhancing economic relations between the two countries; deepening civilisational links, including exploration of the possibility of promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between the leading Hindu and Buddhist establishments of the two countries; and jointly organising lectures/seminars/conferences on important issues facing the two countries for the development of closer bilateral relations.

Earlier a delegation representing VIF was expected to visit Sri Lanka in February for an interaction with the Pathfinder Foundation. However, that meeting failed to take place due to the emergence of COVID-19. 

Over the years the Pathfinder Foundation has developed a network of relations with several other leading Indian think-tanks including the Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), Delhi Policy Group (DPG), National Maritime Foundation (NMF), United Services Institution (USI), Kalinga International Foundation (KIF) and others.