News
India and Lanka sign Defence MoU built on ‘interlinked security’
View(s):- Lanka’s Defence Secretary says deal meticulously scrutinised; Indian Foreign Secretary
says it makes defence cooperation more structured
By S. Rubatheesan
Sri Lanka and India inked a defence cooperation memorandum of understanding yesterday, sealing close ‘interlinked’ security ties between the two nations as
Sri Lanka reiterated once again that the country will not be allowed to pose threats to India’s interests.
“[this] signifies a point of really close convergence in the narratives of both sides—that has been the recognition of the completely interlinked nature of the national security of Sri Lanka and India,” said Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressing a media briefing following bilateral discussions between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake .
Along with the MoU for closer security cooperation, six other agreements were also signed on bilateral ties. They included a
Rs 2.7 billion grant assistance programme in the Eastern province.
In a statement, Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha said the MoU was built on the Defence Dialogue held in 2023 to further strengthen defence relations, and it was meticulously scrutinised, reviewed and relevant negotiations conducted in terms of circular instructions issued by the Secretary to the President in January in respect of interactions with foreign governments.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was duly obtained prior to signing the MoU, and it would be in accordance with international best practices and would not conflict with domestic laws and national policies of either Sri Lanka or India, the Defence Secretary said.
According to his statement, the MoU will be in force for five years, with the parties having to terminate it with three months advance notice or its continuation for three years thereafter, subject to review of progress and termination, if so inclined, with similar prior notice.
Secretary Misra said that this week’s two-day official visit of Prime Minister Modi to Colombo for the fourth time turned out to be a “significant and substantive visit, which is rich in outcomes” and added significant momentum to the partnership.
He also said the MoU on security was an outcome of the meeting of the two leaders in New Delhi last December, soon after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed office.
He also recalled President Dissanayake’s assurance during this week’s meeting and in previous high-level engagements where he stressed that Sri Lankan territory would not be used or allowed to be used in any manner that is inimical or detrimental to India’s interests.
“ If I recall correctly, during discussions today (5), he said that neither Sri Lanka’s land nor the oceans around it will be allowed to be used in any manner inimical to India’s security. This is the background of the signature on the MOU between the two countries for the first time,” the Indian Foreign Secretary said.
The MoU is an umbrella document that will make existing defence cooperation initiatives more structured, he indicated. “There will be activities related to, of course, continuing and intensifying high-level visits between the two countries, more joint exercises, capacity building in various areas, exchanges in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), increasing port calls by naval units of both countries and, of course, exploring defence industry cooperation between the two sides.”
The discussions also saw the finalisation of India’s debt restructuring process with Sri Lanka in exchange for bilateral mandatory agreements on debt restructuring.
“ We have been pursuing an investment-led strategy with Sri Lanka together on a grant assistance-oriented approach to ensure Sri Lanka is firmly on the path to sustainable and long-term economic recovery,” Secretary Misra said.
| No opportunity for Lankan journalists A few Sri Lankan journalists were invited to a briefing by the Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Mistri in Colombo, but they were not given an opportunity to raise questions as only Indian journalists were called by name by an Indian officer coordinating the event.
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