Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fourth visit to Sri Lanka this weekend is more than just another high-level diplomatic engagement. It is a pivotal opportunity to reframe and renew the relationship between two nations bound by history, geography, and shared aspirations.
As Sri Lanka recovers from its most devastating economic crisis and India looks to strengthen its influence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the bilateral relationship demands not just symbolic gestures, but structural resets.
India and Sri Lanka are more than neighbours. They are cultural cousins, bonded by centuries of shared spiritual, linguistic, and economic connections. The roots of Sri Lankan Buddhism lie in India, carried here by Mahinda Thera and Sangamitta Theri, along with the sacred Bo sapling from Bodhgaya. Tamil communities in the North and the East have family ties across the Palk Strait. But kinship is not always uncomplicated.
The relationship has been punctuated by moments of tension, missed opportunities, and unresolved grievances. India’s involvement in Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict during the 1980s, the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) saga, and the lingering issue of the 13th Amendment which emerged from the Indo-Lanka Accord have left behind memories that are often politicised by various factions. Nevertheless, India has remained a consistent partner, and more recently, an indispensable one.
When Sri Lanka was on the brink of economic collapse in 2022, India extended critical financial and humanitarian support worth over US$ 4 billion. From credit lines for fuel and food to donations of medicine and fertiliser, India’s assistance helped Sri Lanka weather a dangerous storm. This goodwill must now be nurtured into long-term economic and strategic cooperation.
However, this visit must also reckon with some uncomfortable truths and long standing issues that, unless addressed, will continue to complicate this crucial relationship. One such flashpoint is the re-emerging debate over the Kachchatheevu Island, a small but geopolitically symbolic island ceded by India to Sri Lanka in 1974.
Although both Governments then agreed on the transfer, recent political rhetoric in India especially from Tamil Nadu (TN) has reignited calls to revisit this decision. Prime Minister Modi himself recently commented on the matter. This has naturally caused concern in Sri Lanka, where the transfer of Kachchatheevu is deemed as settled under international law.
The island itself is uninhabited and holds a Catholic shrine visited annually by devotees from both countries. However, the heart of the issue lies in fishermen’s rights, not sovereignty per se. Sri Lankan authorities have frequently arrested Indian fishermen who stray into Sri Lankan waters, leading to diplomatic friction and hardship for fishing communities on both sides. While Indian fishermen claim traditional rights to these waters, Sri Lanka says that Indian trawlers, especially those using bottom trawling, damage marine ecosystems and hurt the livelihoods of Sri Lankan fishermen.
Resolving this issue will require more than political grandstanding or nationalist rhetoric. What is needed is a joint, humane, and environmentally sustainable fisheries agreement, one that respects maritime boundaries, enables regulated access, and introduces modern, eco-friendly fishing methods. India must work with TN fishing cooperatives to transition from trawling, while Sri Lanka must adopt a more transparent and humane protocol for dealing with arrested fishermen. The issue is not only territorial, but also social and economic.
This visit also comes at a time when Sri Lanka is seeking deeper regional integration and long term investments. India, with its growing economy and strategic interests in the IOR, has already signed several important MoUs with Sri Lanka in areas such as renewable energy, port development, and digital connectivity.
The proposed land connectivity project between the two nations, possibly a bridge or undersea tunnel, could be transformational. It would not only enhance trade and tourism but symbolise a literal and metaphorical bridge between two South Asian democracies. India’s interest in investing in Eastern ports, energy grids, education and pharmaceuticals can contribute significantly to Sri Lanka’s recovery if handled with transparency and public consultation.
As for the 13th Amendment and devolution of powers to Sri Lanka’s provinces, India has long advocated a political solution that ensures autonomy and justice for the Tamil population in the North and the East. While successive Governments have reiterated commitment to its full implementation, progress has been cosmetic at best. India must be firm but respectful in its engagement raising the issue as a matter of democratic principle, not as interference. Equally, Sri Lanka must move beyond political expediency and recognise that sustainable peace and unity cannot be built on marginalisation or tokenism. Devolution, if done meaningfully, can be a bridge to healing rather than a threat to sovereignty.
While Governments negotiate high level agreements, the real meaning of a bilateral relationship lies in people-to-people contact. India and Sri Lanka must do more to promote religious tourism, particularly Buddhist pilgrimages. A special opportunity exists in the fields of education and language learning. Indian universities, cultural centres, and scholarships must be promoted widely in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s Ayurvedic knowledge, cultural heritage, and tourism can find new platforms in Indian States beyond TN.
Ultimately, this visit must go beyond optics and deliver substance. Prime Minister Modi and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake have a rare window to reset a relationship that has been long overshadowed by baggage, both historical and geopolitical. For Sri Lanka, this means adopting a balanced foreign policy that welcomes India not as a fallback or counterweight, but as a key strategic partner. For India, it means treating Sri Lanka with respect due to a sovereign equal.
Let this visit not be just another handshake-and-photo opportunity. Let this be the beginning of a new chapter, characterised by sincerity, shared growth, and sustained diplomacy. Our past is intertwined, and our futures, too, can be interdependent but only if both nations approach this moment with clarity, courage, and candour.
