Conducting India-Sri Lanka relations the Modi way

               

Conducting India-Sri Lanka Relations
                         the Modi Way 
                                  By
                           G. Padmaja    

 

 

India's Narendra Modi and Sri Lanka's Maithripala Sirisena. Photo Credit: Sri Lanka government.

            
Mar 30, 2015                                                        

                                                   

         On March 18, 2015, the Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made a statement in parliament on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka which took place from March 10-14. She began by saying: “The importance of these visits can be gauged from the fact that an Indian prime minister has paid a bilateral visit to Seychelles after 34 years, Mauritius after 10 years and Sri Lanka after 28 years.”

 

 Prior to Modi’s visit and after that too these facts have been repeated by many. This statement no doubt brings out the significance of the visit, but implicit in it is also the acceptance that the Indian foreign policy has either failed in conducting its relations with these countries at the highest level or faces challenges which prevent it from doing so.  The immediate question which arises is what has changed that the Modi government is undertaking these visits where the earlier governments hesitated to do so. In this context it is argued that the new government at the centre believes that India’s national, regional and global interests are best served by having these bilateral visits at the highest level. This article looks specifically at India-Sri Lanka relations to bring this out.

 

 Like the earlier governments, the Modi government too has been influenced by domestic interests and pressure groups from Tamil Nadu, especially with regard to the issues related to Sri Lankan Tamils.  Modi swept to power with an overwhelming majority in May last year. His government has not allowed the Tamil Nadu parties to dictate foreign policy. Whereas the earlier government could not resolve domestic dilemmas and undertake bilateral visits at the highest level, the Modi government did.  While conducting relations with Sri Lanka, Modi in no way diluted India’s stated position on important issues. On the contrary the prime minister, throughout his visit to the island nation, forcefully articulated India’s concerns. It’s only on the basis of strong trust and continuous engagement at the highest level will India’s long term political, economic and maritime strategic interests be served. Not engaging at the highest level is no longer a policy option for Indian foreign policy. It will only result in other external political actors actively engaging with Sri Lanka, which in the long run is not beneficial for India.

This paper looks at some specific issues to bring this out.

 

Overcoming Domestic Dilemmas

 

 The former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh after much debate did not attend the CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet) which took place in Sri Lanka in November 17-18, 2013. In October 2013, the Tamil Nadu assembly passed a unanimous resolution demanding that India completely boycott the meet in Sri Lanka and seek temporary suspension of the island nation from the Commonwealth till Tamils are given rights on par with the Sinhalese and are able to live freely. All political parties, including the Congress, had supported this resolution. They argued that participation would give legitimacy to the then Mahinda Rajapaksa government which they believed had carried out human rights violations in its war against the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). The then foreign secretary Sujatha Singh had said: “Foreign policy is an extension of domestic policy. It is meant to protect domestic interests and any decision that will be taken will be keeping in view the domestic interests, foreign policy and international obligations.” Finally the then external affairs minister Salman Kurshid participated.

 

 
In May 2014, when the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) leaders were invited to attend the swearing-in-ceremony of Prime Minister Modi, the major political parties in Tamil Nadu once again criticised the decision. The Modi government however went ahead with the decision and all the SAARC leaders, including then president of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa participated.
 

 

The ‘neighbourhood first’ policy of the Modi government, which he once again articulated in Sri Lanka by saying, “I am convinced that the future of any country is influenced by the state of its neighbourhood”, clearly implied engaging with the immediate neighbourhood at the highest level without compromising on India’s interests. The bilateral visit gave him an opportunity to address the Sri Lankan parliament and share his views on political, economic, maritime security issues concerning the two countries. He spoke of India’s own experience in centre-state relations. He said: “Today, my top priority is to make the states in India stronger. I am a firm believer in cooperative federalism. So, we are devolving more power and more resources to the states. And, we are making them formal partners in national decision making processes.”

Later in his media statement he said: “We stand with you in your efforts to build a future that accommodates the aspirations of all sections of society, including the Sri Lankan Tamil community, for a life of equality, justice, peace and dignity in a united Sri Lanka. We believe that early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and going beyond it would contribute to this process.”

 

 He became the first Indian prime minister to visit Jaffna. He participated in the various rehabilitation activities being undertaken by India for the Sri Lankan Tamils. He now gave a ‘face’ to those activities. By being there, he once again championed their cause and India’s commitment to them. He further said, “For India, the unity and integrity of Sri Lanka are paramount. It is rooted in our interest. It stems from our own fundamental belief in this principle.” This statement would surely allay any fears from any quarters regarding India’s intentions.

 

 Other Issues

 

 A sense of realism too guided the complex fishermen’s issue where Modi was of the opinion that since it concerns livelihood and humanitarian concerns on both sides, the fishermen associations of both countries should meet and work out a mutually acceptable solution. Economic relations was also given focus. Modi while urging Sri Lankan businessmen to benefit from India’s growth story also agreed that the trade gap which is to India’s advantage needs to be addressed. He called for the early conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

 

Modi also spoke of how the Indian Ocean was critical to the security and prosperity of both the countries. He referred to the maritime security cooperation between India, Sri Lanka and Maldives and how it needs to be expanded. It is important to note here that in July 2013, these three countries had signed an agreement on Trilateral Cooperation on Maritime Security (TCMS) to address common maritime security threats and challenges and enhance security through cooperative measures. In March 2014, the third National Security Advisor- level Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation was held in Delhi where delegations from Mauritius and Seychelles participated as guest countries. Meaningful maritime security cooperation with other countries is indeed of critical importance. However, it cannot work in isolation of the nature of bilateral relations India has with them. They need to be built on strong bilateral relations and Modi’s visit sought to achieve this.

 

 Looking Ahead

 

 The sensitive issues involved in India-Sri Lanka relations make it one of the most difficult bilateral relations for both the countries. However, it can become the most beneficial for both countries if constant engagement at the highest level takes place to build trust which helps in resolving issues. 

 

 China is an important factor in India–Sri Lanka relations. China has close economic, political and security relations with Sri Lanka which at many times is perceived as being detrimental to India’s security concerns. One of the mechanisms for India to safeguard its interests while Sri Lanka–China relations are carried out is by actively engaging at the highest level. Prime Minister Modi’s visit sought to exactly do this. In this context Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s bilateral visit to China from March 26 will be eagerly watched by India.

 

(G. Padmaja, a former UNIDIR (United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research) Visiting Research Fellow at the United Nations, Geneva, is presently an independent researcher writing on SAARC and India’s policy towards its immediate neighbours.  She is based in Visakhapatnam. She can be reached at: sri2003ja@yahoo.com)

 




1, Analysis, India, Sri Lanka