By Annunthra Rangan
Commonly referred to as AKD, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s assurance that Sri Lankan territory would not be used for activities detrimental to India’s interests was the high point of his recent visit to India. The handling of the Ranwala incident (Sri Lanka’s Speaker of Parliament Asoka Sapumal Ranwala tendered his resignation recently amidst mounting controversy regarding the authenticity of his academic qualifications) highlighted his intent to avoid distractions while pursuing his challenging yet ambitious agenda of rebuilding Sri Lanka in the wake of recent social and economic upheavals. On bilateral development cooperation, the joint statement by both the countries highlighted the acknowledgment by both leaders of India’s significant role in Sri Lanka’s socio-economic progress through impactful development assistance.
The Sri Lankan president rose to prominence after his decisive victory in the September presidential election. His party-led coalition, which had won just three per cent of the votes in 2019, achieved a remarkable transformation, securing over 60 percent of the votes. Shortly thereafter, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) coalition won an unprecedented two-thirds parliamentary majority, securing 159 of the 225 seats under Sri Lanka’s proportional representation system. The coalition also performed strongly in the Jaffna electoral district, a traditional stronghold of the Tamil minority.
India’s invitation to Dissanayake for an official visit in early 2024 marks a significant shift in relations, considering the JVP’s turbulent history. During its violent rebellion from 1987 to 1990, the JVP opposed India’s intervention in Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict, condemning the Indo-Lanka Accord as a betrayal of Sri Lankan sovereignty. The rebellion targeted democratic activists who supported the Accord, leaving a lasting mark on Sri Lanka’s political landscape.
Dissanayake’s February visit to India, however, signalled a change in the NPP’s approach. His engagement with Indian leaders underscored a willingness to align with foreign investment interests, a departure from the JVP’s historically anti-Indian stance. This outreach has strengthened the NPP’s appeal among Sri Lanka’s upper middle class, disillusioned with the country’s traditional political parties. Dissanayake also conveyed this shift to the diplomatic community in Colombo, reflecting his intent to redefine Sri Lanka’s foreign policy priorities.
Approximately two months ago, during a meeting in Colombo between India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Dissanayake, the Indian statement reaffirmed New Delhi’s support for the aspirations of all communities in Sri Lanka, including Tamils, emphasizing equality, justice, dignity and peace while upholding the nation’s unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty. The statement stressed the importance of full and effective implementation of the 13th Amendment and the timely conduct of provincial council elections as key steps towards achieving these objectives. This commitment was reiterated by Dissanayake during his three-day official visit to New Delhi, further strengthening bilateral ties.
At a joint press briefing, Dissanayake expressed his optimism for the partnership with India, stating: “The cooperation with India will certainly flourish, and I want to reassure our continued support for India.”
India and Sri Lanka have committed to expediting the completion of key ongoing initiatives, including Phases III and IV of the Indian Housing Project, the Hybrid Renewable Energy Project on three islands, and High-Impact Community Development Projects across Sri Lanka. The scope of cooperation extends to digital connectivity, with projects such as Aadhaar and UPI, as well as energy collaboration. Discussions are underway regarding LNG supply to Sri Lanka, the development of Trincomalee as a regional energy and industrial hub, high-capacity power grid interconnections, and offshore wind power development in the Palk Strait. In terms of physical connectivity, the leaders welcomed the resumption of the passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai and directed officials to work towards the early recommencement of the Rameswaram-Talaimannar ferry service. They also agreed to explore the rehabilitation of Kankesanthurai port.
Defence cooperation emerged as a consequential focus, with both countries agreeing to consider a framework agreement to strengthen defence ties. This includes the provision of defence platforms and assets to enhance Sri Lanka’s defence capabilities and expanding collaboration through joint exercises, maritime surveillance, defence dialogues, and exchanges. Prime Minister Narendra Modi weighed on the importance of maritime security, cyber security, and counter-terrorism, advocating for these issues to be addressed through the Colombo Security Conclave mechanism.
Colombo’s recent statement carries considerable consequence against the backdrop of China’s assertive “Mission Indian Ocean”, which directly challenges India’s strategic interests. Tensions escalated following China’s acquisition of Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port due to Colombo’s inability to service its debts. Chinese naval activities, including the docking of the 25,000-ton surveillance vessel Yuan Wang 5 at Hambantota, have heightened concerns in New Delhi due to Sri Lanka’s geographic proximity to India. After India expressed apprehensions over the presence of Chinese vessels in August 2022, Sri Lanka initially requested Beijing to delay the arrival of these ships. However, the eventual docking of the Chinese vessel marked an increase in PRC’s naval presence in the region.
On the issue of Tamil minorities, President Dissanayake resisted India’s preferred stance. The joint statement avoided explicit mention of the 13th Amendment to Sri Lanka’s Constitution, which grants powers to the Tamil minority—a long-standing demand of India. While some Tamils view it as a necessary but limited step towards federalism, others see it as a compromise that diluted their historic demands. The Amendment has resurfaced in political discourse, with Dissanayake expressing intentions to build on the draft Constitution proposed during the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration, which ultimately failed to materialize.
Fifteen years after the civil war’s end, Tamil communities continue to grapple with unresolved challenges, including accountability for wartime atrocities, reclaiming military-occupied land, and rebuilding shattered livelihoods. Despite their significant contribution to the NPP’s electoral success, Tamil voters seek clarity on how the government intends to address these pressing issues. Promises of national integration and a unified Sri Lankan identity will be judged by the administration’s concrete policies on reconciliation, political representation, and development in the north and east.
For Sri Lanka’s Tamil political leadership, the recent elections were a wake-up call. Regional Tamil parties, which once dominated the north and east, were outperformed by the NPP in all but one district. This outcome has forced Tamil leaders to confront their inability to deliver meaningful progress while relying on international actors, including India, Western powers, and the Tamil diaspora. India’s diminishing interest in the Tamil question further underscores the need for a strategic shift.
To remain relevant, Tamil leaders must refocus their efforts on addressing the immediate needs of the communities they represent. The electorate has sent a clear message: progress will not come from external actors, but from tangible change on the ground. For the Tamil polity, this represents both a challenge and an opportunity to rebuild credibility and engage more effectively with the people they aim to serve.
Dissanayake has opposed the Amendment’s implementation and any investigation into alleged war crimes during the final stages of the civil war between the Sri Lankan military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Modi, however, reiterated India’s position, emphasizing the importance of “reconciliation and reconstruction” in Sri Lanka. He expressed hope that Colombo would “fully implement the Constitution and fulfil its commitment to hold provincial council elections.”
Two and a half months after his historic parliamentary victory in November, Dissanayake appears more assured in his interactions with major powers like India and China. This new-found confidence is also evident domestically, where he has demonstrated commitment to the anti-corruption principles of the “Clean Sri Lanka” campaign that propelled him to office.
The recent controversy surrounding Speaker Asoka Ranwala, a close political ally of Dissanayake, drew great attention just days before the president’s visit to India. Ranwala, a senior member of Dissanayake’s JVP, was compelled to step down following the president’s pointed remarks about the party’s zero tolerance for impropriety.
During Sri Lanka’s economic crisis in 2022, which sparked unprecedented public protests, the JVP chose to distance itself from the movement, cautioning citizens against joining what it viewed as a leaderless uprising. Despite this, the protests succeeded in ousting the long-dominant Rajapaksa family from power. Ranil Wickremesinghe subsequently assumed the presidency, tasked with steering the country through its worst financial turmoil since independence. Under his leadership, Sri Lanka adopted International Monetary Fund (IMF)-backed reforms, which, while stabilizing the economy, imposed severe hardships on the population.
Throughout this period, the JVP focused its narrative on combating corruption rather than addressing the economic reforms directly. This strategy paid off, as the party gained significant political traction, culminating in its leader, AKD, emerging victorious in the 2024 presidential election. His win was followed by a historic parliamentary victory for the JVP-led National People’s Power (NPP) coalition, which secured a two-thirds majority.
India was quick to acknowledge Dissanayake’s victory. Jaishankar became the first foreign dignitary to visit Colombo after his inauguration, highlighting the importance of India-Sri Lanka relations. New Delhi has played a major role in Colombo’s recovery, providing necessary financial assistance, including a $61.5 million grant for the rehabilitation of Kankesanthurai Port and Rs 2.37 billion for development projects in education, health and agriculture in the Eastern Province, as mentioned earlier. Collaborative initiatives, such as the Bharat Lanka Housing Project and renewable energy systems for Jaffna islets, highlight the deepening bilateral ties. India has also pledged support for infrastructure development, capacity building for Sri Lankan civil servants, and renewable energy integration, alongside plans to connect the two nations’ power grids and establish a petroleum pipeline.
Despite these developments, challenges persist. The issue of Tamil fishermen inadvertently crossing maritime boundaries continues to strain relations, with 537 Indian fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan authorities in 2024 alone. India has called for their early release, stressing more on a humanitarian approach to resolve the matter.
Modi expressed hope that the Sri Lankan government would fulfill Tamil aspirations by implementing Sri Lanka’s Constitution and conducting long-overdue provincial council elections. However, Dissanayake reframed the narrative, emphasizing the importance of unity and coexistence across all provinces and communities. The NPP manifesto promises to hold provincial elections and draft a new Constitution based on public consultations, but the government has yet to articulate a clear roadmap for addressing Tamil grievances or achieving a durable political settlement. Analysts have noted the NPP’s preference for a civic nationalism framework over traditional devolution or liberal peace discourses, reflecting a shift in how the government approaches inter-ethnic peace and reconciliation.
As Sri Lanka navigates its post-crisis recovery, the NPP faces the dual challenge of addressing the nation’s economic and social inequalities while managing complex regional dynamics. Dissanayake’s presidency represents a determining moment, offering an opportunity to redefine Sri Lanka’s political landscape and its relations with India and other global powers. However, delivering on promises of national integration and equitable development will require concrete policies and sustained commitment, particularly in addressing the aspirations of the country’s Tamil and other minority communities.
—The writer is a Senior Research Officer at Chennai Centre for China Studies. Her research interests constitute China-WANA (West Asia and North Africa) relations and human rights