International: Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita expressed his gratitude to Sri Lankan High Commissioner Kshenuka Senewiratne during her farewell meeting, commending her instrumental role in strengthening India-Sri Lanka relations.
Margherita highlighted Senewiratne’s significant contributions in fostering cooperation between the two countries across key sectors, including connectivity, education, agriculture, energy, and culture. He acknowledged that under her tenure, India and Sri Lanka have seen their bilateral partnership grow through high-level exchanges and collaborative projects.
The longstanding ties between the two nations have been reinforced by external affairs initiatives such as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s recent visit to Sri Lanka. This visit underscored India’s continued commitment to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) framework, further solidifying the strategic and regional significance of their partnership.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is undergoing a political shift following President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s leftist coalition securing a decisive two-thirds majority in the parliamentary elections. With this mandate, Dissanayake is focused on implementing vital austerity measures to address the country’s ongoing economic crisis and fulfill reform promises.
India has consistently emphasized its support for Sri Lanka’s development needs, aligning projects with the priorities of the Sri Lankan government. This evolving partnership underscores the growing importance of India-Sri Lanka relations, both strategically and regionally.