Harsha flags decades of lost ground in Sri Lanka-India economic ties

Tuesday, 10 February 2026 05:31 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Argues failure to deepen engagement with India comes at high social, economic cost
Urges present regime to reassess approach as India consolidates its global status
Notes continued policy inertia on ECTA despite repeated high-level bilateral visits
Acknowledges nationalist backlash but argues political caution has prolonged stagnation

Opposition MP Dr. Harsha de Silva

Opposition MP Dr. Harsha de Silva has criticised successive Governments for what he described as decades of missed opportunities in Sri Lanka’s economic engagement with India, arguing that the failure to integrate more closely with the regional powerhouse has imposed a heavy cost on the country.

Commenting on Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)/National People’s Power (NPP) Leader Tilvin Silva’s recent meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, Dr. de Silva said political leaders must confront the strategic importance of economic integration with India, which he described as the world’s fastest-growing major economy.

Writing on ‘X,’ Dr. de Silva questioned the absence of progress on the proposed Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ECTA), stating: “Nothing happened for the last 1.5 years, in fact ‘ECTA’ does not even appear in any of the official statements during the visits of the President or PM.”

He warned that prolonged hesitation had translated into lost opportunities for employment and growth, framing the outcome as “a colossal waste of so many thousand young lives and decades of lost time.”

Dr. de Silva also acknowledged the political risks associated with advocating deeper economic ties with India, noting anticipated resistance from nationalist groups.

“I am aware that the opportunistic nationalists will attack me saying this line of thinking will cost the opposition the next election and fuel divisive politics. Of course I remember the attacks against me when we were establishing #1990 #SuwaSeriya… what if I backed down?” he said.

He argued that repeated retreats in the face of such opposition had contributed to policy paralysis at a time when Sri Lanka could least afford further delay in redefining its external economic strategy.