Lanka will work closely on security: New Prez to India

New Delhi: Sri Lankan President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa assured India that he would work closely with it to ensure “development and security” during a phone call made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to him on Sunday to congratulate him on his spectacular electoral victory in the presidential elections held in Sri Lanka on Saturday. PM Modi also invited Mr Rajapaksa to India and the invitation was accepted, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said. The reference to “security” in the MEA statement is being seen as significant. Sri Lanka had suffered terror attacks earlier this year and failed to prevent it despite advance intelligence warnings from New Delhi. But the other interesting aspect is New Delhi’s security concerns, particularly regarding the issue of earlier movement of Chinese submarines in Sri Lankan waters.

It may be recalled that during the presidency of Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s brother Mahinda Rajapaksa a few years ago, Chinese submarines were found moving in Sri Lankan waters then and India had expressed its concerns at that time. The Rajapaksa brothers were often seen earlier as having a pronounced pro-China tilt which had caused some anxiety to New Delhi but India is hoping that its policy of active engagement with Sri Lanka will address this issue effectively. New Delhi has also been undertaking development projects in the island nation which is also India’s maritime southern neighbour.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the MEA said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated President-elect of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa over telephone on his electoral victory in the presidential elections held in Sri Lanka on Saturday. Conveying the good wishes on behalf of the people of India and on his own behalf, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that under the able leadership of Mr Rajapaksa the people of Sri Lanka will progress further on the path of peace and prosperity and fraternal, cultural, historical and civilisational ties between India and Sri Lanka will be further strengthened. The Prime Minister reiterated India’s commitment to continue to work with the Government of Sri Lanka to these ends.”

“Mr Rajapaksa thanked the Prime Minister for his good wishes. He also expressed his readiness to work with India very closely to ensure development and security. The Prime Minister extended an invitation to Mr. Rajapaksa to visit India at his early convenience. The invitation was accepted,” the MEA added.