The Big Picture: Sri Lanka’s India First Policy

Описание: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has made it clear that Sri Lanka’s strategic security policy will have an “India first” approach though Colombo remains open to dealing with other key players for economic development, the country’s new foreign secretary Jayanath Colombage has said. Colombage, a retired admiral who commanded Sri Lanka’s navy during 2012-14 and is perceived as close to Rajapaksa, made the remarks in two interviews to the media. He also said Rajapaksa’s administration has adopted a posture of neutrality in its dealings with key powers at the regional and global level as Sri Lanka cannot become a “staging area” for any country to do “anything against another country – especially...India”. India has focussed on improving ties with Rajapaksa’s administration. PM Modi was the first world leader to congratulate Rajapaksa even before the final results of Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections were declared in August, after his SLPP party took an unassailable lead. In this edition of The Big Picture we will analyse Sri Lanka’s India First Policy.

Guest Name:-
1. Alok Bansal, Director, India Foundation
2. Prabhu Dayal, Former Ambassador
3. Rajesh Sundaram, Journalist & Author

Anchor:- Frank Rausan Pereira
Producer:- Sagheer Ahmad