New Delhi: India has conveyed that seven Lines of Credit worth $20 million offered to Sri Lanka can be converted into a grant, as well as offered to foot the bill for the modernisation of the Kankesanthurai port in Jaffna district to the tune of $61.5 million, during External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s day-long visit to the island country Friday.
“He [Jaishankar] emphasised that India has offered to modernise the Kankesanthurai port through a grant to the tune of USD 61.5 million. He also conveyed that payments for 7 completed Line of Credit projects to the tune of USD 20 million could be converted into [a] grant. India has also decided to gift 22 diesel locomotives to the Sri Lankan Railways,” said the Ministry of External Affairs in a press statement.
Jaishankar made the offer during his meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart Vijitha Herath, who assumed the role of foreign minister of the island country on 24 September. This was the first high-level delegation visit by India since the recently concluded Sri Lankan presidential elections, which were held on 21 September.
Jaishankar also called on newly sworn-in President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who had defeated both Sajith Premadasa and incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Indian external affairs minister met both Premadasa and Wickremesinghe, as well as Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.
The Kankesanthurai port is roughly 104 kilometres from the port of Karaikal in India. It was severely damaged during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, as well as cyclone ‘Nisha’ which struck Sri Lanka in November 2008.
In 2011, India and Sri Lanka had signed an agreement for the rehabilitation of the Kankesanthurai port. In October 2023, a passenger connection between Nagapattinam in India and the Kankesanthurai port was started, with a one-way ferry taking roughly three and a half hours to cover the 111 kilometres between the two ports.
India had originally proposed the modernisation of this port, located in the Northern Province, in 2017. Eventually an approval for offering project management services was given in December 2019.
While the project remained incomplete, in April this year, the Sri Lankan cabinet once again gave its approval for the modernisation of the port, with India footing the bill. However, both India and Sri Lanka have held elections since, with the new administration in the island country assuming power on 23 September.
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Security, defence & fishermen issues discussed
During his meeting with Dissanayake, Jaishankar raised the possibilities of further cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy production and transmission, fuel and LNG supply, solar electrification of religious places, connectivity and digital public infrastructure.
The Indian external affairs minister also highlighted that the interests of India and Sri Lanka are “closely intertwined” in the realms of security and defence.
“The President reiterated that Sri Lankan territory would never be allowed to be used in a manner inimical to India’s security interests,” said the MEA in its press statement. India has continuously raised the issue of the usage of Sri Lankan ports by Chinese research vessels, which has been a concern for New Delhi in recent years.
In December 2023, the Wickremesinghe administration had instituted a one-year moratorium on the usage of its ports by research vessels from all countries, which is scheduled to end later this year.
These vessels are capable of collecting information, which has dual purposes—civilian and military. New Delhi has been wary of the operation of such vessels by China and has raised the issue with both Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Apart from the discussions of security and defence issues with President Dissanayake, the Indian foreign minister also pressed for the early release of Indian fishermen and their boats detained by Sri Lankan authorities.
“A humanitarian approach focused on livelihood issues would create a durable basis for addressing this matter. A meeting of the Joint Working Group on Fisheries and of the Fishermen Associations would be timely. EAM appreciated the release of 50 Indian fishermen today,” said the MEA in its statement.
Jaishankar also reiterated New Delhi’s support for the implementation of the 13th amendment of the Sri Lankan constitution. The amendment devolves various powers to provincial councils amongst other measures and was passed by the Sri Lankan parliament in 1987 after the signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka accord in July of the same year. However, the amendment is yet to be fully implemented.
“With regard to the ethnic issue and the reconciliation process, EAM reiterated India’s support for the aspirations of all communities, including Tamils, for equality, justice, dignity, peace while maintaining the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka. The full and effective implementation of the 13th Amendment of its Constitution and the early holding of Provincial Council elections will facilitate these objectives,” said the MEA in its statement.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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