18/11/2019 - International Relations | Mainstorming

IAS Parliament 5 years

KEY POINTS

· The eyes of the world, and especially India, China and the US, will be watching the first moves of Sri Lankan President who made national security his campaign’s central theme after the Easter terrorist attacks.

· India’s had differences in the past leader because of its perceived closeness to China, but it’s thought both sides have attempted to bridge the gaps.

· Now India is looking forward to deepen the relations with Srilanka, the island is heavily dependent on tourism which took a hit after the easter attacks.

· India needs to promote the tourism development on the lines of Incredible India Campaign and cultural relations via its soft power.

· China had invested millions of money in Sri Lanka, Hambantota port on a 99 year lease, which acts a greatest challenge for India, but attracts few ships.

· China has also involved in a $1.4 billion project to build a new Colombo port city on a reclaimed land in the capital.

· To counter Chinese influence India and Japan signed a deal to build a deep-sea container port in Colombo.

· India now has a chance to cooperate with SriLanka in various ways through enhancing the trade balance, building better security infrastructure especially in maritime borders.

· Cooperation can be established to prevent the death and arrest of fisher-men.