Modi’s visit to strengthen Lanka – India ties

by Manjula Fernando

The significance of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s State visit to Sri Lanka from March 13-14 will be threefold to the Asian giant while Sri Lanka will attempt to mend its strained relations with her giant neighbour due to certain actions on the part of the previous regime.

India is expected to focus attention on the fishermen’s issue across the Palk Straits, power devolution to the Northern province and most importantly, balancing China’s influence in its backyard during the high-profile tour.

Modi will also visit two other strategic Indian ocean island nations, Seychelles and Mauritius from March 11 to 14. The local media termed the visits, a move to ‘bolster India’s relations’ and ‘build strategic ties as a possible counter to China’s growing maritime influence’.

A high-profile visit to the Maldives was also included in his itinerary on the upcoming tour but it had been cancelled at the eleventh hour due to the political situation in Male following the sudden arrest of former President M Nasheed, The Hindu reported quoting the Indian External Affairs Ministry.

The Indian leader will arrive in Sri Lanka after wrapping up visits to the Seychelles and Mauritius on March 12 evening. During his relatively lengthy stay here, the Indian Prime Minister will visit Jaffna, Talaimannar and Anuradhapura on March 14, in addition to his bi-lateral meetings and other engagements in Colombo on March 13.

In Jaffna, the Premier will unveil a plaque near the Jaffna library, at the site of a cultural centre which is being built by India and also present houses built under the Indian funded 50,000 houses project to beneficiaries, a Foreign Ministry release stated.

He will also flag off the first train from the Talaimannar station signifying the launch of train services from to Colombo. The rail track was reconstructed under an Indian credit line after the end of the war.

A visit to the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura is symbolic for both countries as the Indian Premier had shown a keen interest in Buddhism. Following President Sirisena's visit to India he permitted Sri Lankan pilgrims to pay local rates to visit the national museum in Delhi where the sacred Kapilavasthu relics for Buddhists are enshrined.

The Indian Premier will be accorded a ceremonial reception welcome and a guard of honour on March 13 after which he will hold bi-lateral discussions with President Maithripala Sirisena before being hosted to lunch by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. President Sirisena will host a State Banquet in honour of the visiting leader.

Modi will be accorded the honour of addressing a special sitting of Parliament on March 13 at 3.15pm, an honour which was also granted to his predecessors Indira Gandhi in 1973 and Morarji Desai in 1979.

He is also scheduled to lay a wreath at the IPKF Memorial and visit the Mahabodhi Society. This will be the first official visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Sri Lanka in 28 years after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's visit in 1987.

Dr. Manmohan Singh arrived here in 2008 to attend the 15th SAARC Summit as a guest Head-of-State. The agreements to be inked during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to Sri Lanka next week were the key focus of the discussions between visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday.The counterparts had also discussed the resumption of ferry services between the two countries that had come to a standstill, once due to the war and again in 2011.

"India and Sri Lanka are keen to resume the ferry services at the earliest," Director General Publicity, A.M.J. Sadiq told reporters after the meeting.

The talks however, had not touched on the contentious fisheries issue. The Indian External Affairs Minister is in the country ahead of a two-day visit by Indian Prime Minister. The two Ministers also reviewed arrangements relating to the forthcoming official visit by the Indian Premier.Swaraj also called on President Mathripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Foreign Minister Samaraweera yesterday hosted a welcome dinner in honour of the visiting Minister and her delegation.

At the dinner reception she said, "The past year has been remarkable in the history of our countries. People in both countries have voted for change. This has brought new momentum to the bilateral relationship."

She added, "My visit to Sri Lanka is part of the high-level engagement with the new Government of Sri Lanka. It also gives us an opportunity to close the gaps before the visit of Prime Minister Modi."

The visiting minister paid floral tributes at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) war memorial on Saturday.

The Indian External Affairs Minister visited Sri Lanka previously as Minister of Telecommunications and as Leader of the Opposition of the Lok Sabha. She arrived in Colombo on Friday and departed last evening.

- MF