New Delhi: Indians will be among the nationals from 39 countries — who will have free visas to travel to Sri Lanka from January 2025 — announced Sri Lankan foreign minister Vijitha Herath Tuesday.
“A parliamentary gazette notification will be made next January, where we will give free visas to 39 countries, including India. We hope that India will give us this facility [free visas] too,” Vijitha Herath said during an interaction organised by the India Foundation in New Delhi.
Ram Madhav, the president of India Foundation, and R.K. Singh, the former minister of state in the external affairs ministry, also attended the discussion.
The Sri Lankan foreign minister added: “The historical evolution, cultural bonds with economic activities is the foundation on which our relationship will grow. Interaction between our leaders is extremely close. The largest number of tourists in Sri Lanka is from India.”
Vijitha Herath is part of the delegation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who arrived in India for a state visit lasting three days, 15-17 December.
Dissanayake met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. A day before that, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called on Dissanayake in the evening, after which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval called on the Sri Lankan President.
On Tuesday, Vijitha Herath highlighted the enduring civilisational ties connecting the two countries, from the introduction of Buddhism in the island nation two millennia ago to the present-day strong business and commercial bonds.
Herath, also the Sri Lankan minister for tourism, said that to promote tourism between the two countries, Colombo is also looking at a land bridge project connecting the northern part of the island with southern India. He said the government will “consider” the proposal but needs time for a complete study.
Sri Lanka elected Dissanayake as the president on 23 September this year when his party, the National People’s Power, won a historic majority in the parliamentary elections, breaking the political orthodoxy in the country. The India visit was the new Sri Lankan president’s first foreign visit.
In recent years, India has been worrying about China’s growing closeness with the various governments of Sri Lanka. Herath clarified that Colombo will have a “good relationship with” China among other countries, including the United States, Russia, and “even Cuba and North Korea”.
“There is no difference between countries. As an island country, we must build relationships with all other countries. Our next visit is to China next month. We have been continuing our relationship with all countries… We are focusing on a win-win foreign policy,” said Vijitha Herath.
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‘National policy on research vessels’
In recent years, Chinese research vessels have made port calls at Sri Lankan harbours, which has worried policy-makers in New Delhi. In October 2023, Shiyan-6, a Chinese research vessel, made a port call to Colombo. Then, the former president Ranil Wickremesinghe-led Sri Lankan government issued a moratorium on all research vessels berthing at Sri Lankan harbours for a year, starting 1 January 2024.
These research vessels collect information that can be used for civilian and military purposes, which has been a concern for New Delhi.
“There must be a national policy on research vessels. We have appointed a special national committee to submit a report on the berthing of research vessels at our ports. As you know, after the end of this month, there will no longer be a moratorium. We want a national policy on research vessels,” said Vijitha Herath on the future of the moratorium.
In a statement to the press Monday, Dissanayake clarified that there would be no use of Sri Lankan territory in any manner “inimical” to the interests of India, in what was a message to China. However, it is now up to Colombo to address India’s security concerns surrounding Chinese research vessels using its ports.
‘Sri Lanka can export energy to India’
Vijitha Herath sounded positive while talking about the energy sector in Sri Lanka, pointing out that it is a country that, in the future, could produce electricity for export to the Indian grids if all of the projects currently in the works begin operations.
“We can produce surplus energy with the support of your companies to develop our energy sector. There are so many proposals, and we have already started some projects. After the success of these projects, we can share our energy with our neighbouring country, too,” said Herath.
His comments come after Adani’s wind-power project in northwestern Sri Lanka — worth $440 million — has come under review by Colombo. The issue surrounding the project is the final tariffs signed between Adani and the previous dispensation in Colombo. The matter is under litigation in the courts.
Herath further invited Indian investments into the Chinese-led Port City project, with the government looking to continue completing the special economic zone built on reclaimed land next to Galle Face Green in Colombo. The project, estimated at roughly $15 billion, is an initiative with the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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