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Indian Envoy urges Sri Lanka to fast-track trade, connectivity agenda
India has called for a bold reset in its economic and strategic engagement with Sri Lanka, with Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha urging both countries to move beyond symbolism and accelerate long-discussed agreements on trade, connectivity, energy, and digital integration. Delivering a keynote address at the Global Innovation and Leadership Summit in Colombo on Saturday, organised by Z Media and WION, Jha described the India-Sri Lanka relationship as one rooted in centuries of shared history rather than conventional diplomacy. “This is not simply a bilateral relationship. It is a civilisational bond,” Jha said, recalling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s description of India and Sri Lanka as “civilisational twins” during his April 2025 visit. He said ties between the two nations predate treaties, trade agreements, and formal diplomatic structures, citing shared religious, cultural, and historical linkages ranging from the Ramayana tradition to the transmission of Theravada Buddhist texts and the region’s ancient architectural influences. “These are not coincidences of geography. These are the signatures of a shared civilisation,” he said. Positioning India-Sri Lanka relations against an increasingly fragmented global order, Jha said the world was entering a period marked by weaponised supply chains, geopolitical competition, economic uncertainty, and weakening confidence in global institutions. “When the world is uncertain, you turn to those you trust. And trust, real trust, is built over centuries, not decades. India and Sri Lanka have that in plenty,” he said. Jha said this depth of trust gives the bilateral relationship resilience that transactional partnerships often lack, especially during political or economic shocks. He also highlighted India’s role as Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner, largest source of tourists, and one of its leading foreign investors. The High Commissioner said Indian-linked investments in Sri Lanka accounted for 50% of total foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows last year, including investments routed through third countries. Referring to the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Jha noted that the agreement had delivered stronger relative gains for Sri Lanka. “More than 65% of Sri Lankan exports use FTA benefits, whereas only 5% of Indian exports use the same,” he said. He also pointed out that Sri Lanka has maintained a trade surplus with India for over a decade when only FTA-enabled trade is considered, whi...
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