Colombo: Sri Lanka would never allow its territory to be used for activities inimical to India’s security interests, the country’s president Anura Kumara Dissanayake said on Wednesday during a meeting with defence minister Rajnath Singh.
The two sides signed three agreements to boost defence cooperation during the meeting, including one to modernise India-supplied air-defence guns operated by the Sri Lankan Air Force.
Mega infrastructure projects undertaken in neighbouring countries with loans from Chinese state-run banks have always been a matter of concern for India, given the experience with Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port, which was handed over to Chinese control under a 99-year lease in 2017 after Colombo couldn’t pay off related debts.
A total of 15,000 acres around the port were also handed over along with the facility. Part of the port has been developed into a logistics hub by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
Three Bailey bridges constructed by the Indian military in the island nation, were also virtually inaugurated by the two leaders.
“The two sides exchanged MoUs on upgrading L70 guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force, and cooperation between the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and National Defence Colleges (NDC) of both countries,” India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement.
Singh reached Colombo on Tuesday for a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening the maritime and defence partnership between the two countries, as reported by Hindustan Times.
Dissanayake expressed his gratitude for India’s assistance under Operation Sagar Bandhu following Cyclone Ditwah, as well as New Delhi’s comprehensive rehabilitation package supporting reconstruction efforts across the island.
“As close neighbours and maritime partners, India and Sri Lanka have reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together for the development of our countries and the well-being of our people. Likewise, we have reaffirmed our resolve to work together for the security, safety, peace, and prosperity of our region,” Singh said.
The was substantive discussions between the two leaders on issues covering the entire spectrum of the multi-faceted partnership between the two nations, characterised by traditionally warm relations and mutual trust, the defence ministry said.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the upgradation of six L70 guns for the Sri Lankan Air Force falls under a Government of India grant. “The upgradation of these air defence guns will significantly strengthen the air defence architecture of critical assets in Sri Lanka. These air defence guns were earlier provided to the Sri Lanka Air Force by India,” it said.
The MoU on academic cooperation between NDC, India and NDC, Sri Lanka will facilitate knowledge sharing, a significant step in further strengthening the academic bonds between the two institutes, the ministry said.
The MoU on NCC cooperation will formalise the NCC youth exchange programme between India and Sri Lanka, it added. “This exchange programme provides a valuable opportunity for cadets from multiple countries across the world to come to New Delhi every year and participate in NCC events.”