Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sri Lanka, his first since 2019, highlighting strong bilateral ties.
Sri Lanka honored Modi with its highest award for foreign leaders and signed a landmark MoU on defense cooperation.
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) government, initially seen as anti-India, showed commitment to improving relations, assuring Sri Lanka won’t use its territory against India’s security.
The MoU formalizes defense ties, but Sri Lanka must prove its seriousness in defense cooperation.
Modi’s visit included discussions on the fishermen’s dispute with Tamil Nadu; more talks between fishing communities are needed for lasting solutions.
Tamil parties emphasized the importance of the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord for political settlement and sought India’s involvement.
New Delhi should support democratic processes in Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern provinces while remaining a neutral facilitator.
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