Indo-Lanka ties

No Sri Lankan can forget the assistance and support the island received from its giant neighbour over the last few years whenever our nation was facing grave and severe challenges. During Sri Lanka’s severe economic crisis in 2022, India emerged as one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most immediate supporters and its assistance covered many areas including emergency financing, essential imports, and humanitarian aid. The world’s most populous nation support during those dark days in the lives of islanders served as a critical lifeline that kept essential imports flowing, alleviated pressure on foreign reserves, and provided time and space for Sri Lanka to pursue IMF-backed stabilisation and debt restructuring.

Even in the aftermath of the devastating Cyclone Ditwah, the Asian giant’s generous and timely response was well appreciated by Sri Lankans across political, social, and ethnic divides. The South Asian State's efforts when its southern neighbour faced one of its worst natural disasters encompassed naval and air relief efforts, rescue operations, medical and humanitarian aid, as well as infrastructure restoration. The prompt response from the Government of India was instrumental in alleviating human suffering and supporting local recovery.

Nevertheless, irrespective of the enormous goodwill and vital help extended to Sri Lanka by New Delhi, India is viewed with suspicion and scepticism due to its unwarranted intervention in the domestic politics of Sri Lanka. In the past, numerous officers attached to India’s foreign service had been accused of meddling with the internal politics of the island when they served in the Mission in Colombo. 

In the recently released book Aragalaye Balaya by Professor Sunanda Maddumabandara – who served as Senior Adviser – Media to President Ranil Wickremesinghe – it had been disclosed that the then India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay had asked former Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to accept the Presidency immediately on 13 July, 2022, amidst a large-scale protest outside the Speaker’s official residence. According to Prof. Maddumabandara, Abeywardena had been assured by the Indian envoy that if the latter agreed to accept the country’s leadership, the situation would be brought under control within 45 minutes. Interestingly, the Indian High Commissioner had entered the Speaker’s official residence, unannounced, at a time protesters blocked the road leading to the abode of the 3rd most important individual in the country. Though a considerable period of time has passed since the publication of the book, the allegation has not been countered by either the Indian Foreign Ministry or the former high commissioner. The alleged attempt by Baglay to install someone like Abeywardena who did not enjoy mass public appeal or any recognition as a national leader appears quite bizarre and defies any logic. Was Baglay acting on its own or did he have the blessings of New Delhi? 

The India has a documented history of intervening with the power politics of Sri Lanka. During the 1989 insurgency, the then Indian Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Nirupam Sen had interacted with a section of the JVP and it was rumoured that the former JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe’s departure from the island at the height of violence in 1989 was facilitated by the Indian Mission. In 2004, it was alleged that Nirupam Sen, in his capacity as High Commissioner, had played an influential role behind the scenes in forming the coalition between the SLFP and the JVP to bring down the Ranil Wickremesinghe-led UNP administration. Jyotindra Nath Dixit, who served as India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka when Indo-Lanka ties were going through a tumultuous period during the presidency of J.R. Jayewardene, was dubbed as the viceroy of Sri Lanka. 

The India needs to appreciate that Sri Lanka is a sovereign country and the task of determining who holds political power in this land should be left to the voters. New Delhi is well advised to cultivate and develop cordial relations with the island without playing politics.