Strengthening Ties: Growing Defense Cooperation between India and Sri Lanka
India and Sri Lanka’s defense cooperation is expanding at a critical time for regional security. Diplomatic sources suggest that this is particularly significant as India’s defense engagements with other nations in the region, such as the Maldives, are reportedly diminishing.
India’s growing involvement in Sri Lanka is seen as a strategic move to bolster its influence in the Indian Ocean, especially in light of China’s increasing presence in the region.
India is actively fostering closer defense ties with Sri Lanka through specialized training programs and military aid.
This approach mirrors the historical model of the United States, which has provided military aid to developing nations for over a century. By enhancing Sri Lanka’s defense capabilities, India aims to create a robust partnership that strengthens security in the region.
Recently, India announced a series of capacity-building training courses for Sri Lankan police officers, following a request from Sri Lanka.
These courses, offered at leading defense institutions in India such as the Central Detective Training Institutes and the National Security Guard, are designed to enhance various skills including crime scene investigation, the use of artificial intelligence to counter cybercrime, and VIP security protocols. These programs are funded entirely by India, with no cost to Sri Lankan participants.
In 2024 alone, over 130 Sri Lankan police officers across different ranks are expected to participate in these training sessions. A group of 23 senior officers has already begun a two-week program in New Delhi, focusing on critical areas such as counter-terrorism, internal security, and religious extremism.
These initiatives fall under India’s broader Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and “Aid to Sri Lanka” programs.
In addition to training, India has also provided significant material aid. In a recent gesture, the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sachet arrived in Colombo to deliver $1.2 million worth of spare parts for the Sri Lanka Coast Guard ship Suraksha.
This aid was part of an ongoing promise made by India in 2023 to provide additional military funding to Sri Lanka.
Economic and political ties between the two nations have also strengthened, particularly under the leadership of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
For instance, India’s Adani Group has been granted a monopoly over large-scale renewable energy projects in Sri Lanka, and further collaboration is expected in areas such as airport management and infrastructure development.
In a sfnificant event ,a recent cultural exchange program highlighted the depth of the bilateral relationship.
On October 2, 2024, an Indian Air Force aircraft carrying 120 Indian military personnel arrived in Colombo for a three-day visit to cultural sites in Sri Lanka. Simultaneously, 120 Sri Lankan Armed Forces personnel traveled to Bodh Gaya, India. This exchange, aimed at fostering greater cultural understanding between the two nations’ armed forces, marks the resumption of such visits, which had been paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy continues to guide its defense cooperation with Sri Lanka, which encompasses a wide range of activities from joint training and exercises to goodwill visits and military aid.
These collaborations are expected to grow, further solidifying the relationship between the two countries in the years to come.
