India’s move to secure ties as presidential race heats up

• The conclave deals with maritime security, counterterrorism  and cybersecurity
• India is particular about Sri Lanka’s foreign policy
• India has been keen that Sri Lanka is not drawn into the  sphere of Chinese influence

By Kelum Bandara   

Ahead of the presidential poll, in an apparent move to  ensure that Indo-Lanka bilateral cooperation on national security is not  compromised under a future government, visiting Indian National  Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with four main presidential candidates -  President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) candidate  Sajith Premadasa, National People’s Power (NPP) candidate Anura Kumara  Dissanayake and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Namal Rajapaksa  yesterday.  

Mr. Doval was on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka to take part  in the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC). India, Mauritius, Maldives, Sri  Lanka and Bangladesh are member-states of the CSC.  

The conclave deals with maritime security, counterterrorism  and cybersecurity with India bringing to the fore its own strategic  concerns in the Indian Ocean.   

India is particular about Sri Lanka’s foreign policy,  particularly in respect of defence aspects, as it seeks to contain the  influence of China in the region.   

India has been keen that Sri Lanka is not drawn into the  sphere of Chinese influence. India protested the involvement of Chinese  research vessels in Sri Lankan waters on the basis that it would stoke  national security concerns. Sri Lanka imposed a one-year moratorium on  research involving foreign vessels, a move believed by Beijing to target it. China remains resentful of Sri Lanka over this act and  conveyed its displeasure to Sri Lanka.  

Recently, in what appeared to be a rare incident, Indian and Chinese warships were docked in Colombo port.   
India’s INS Mumbai and Chinese ships - destroyer Hefei and  amphibious ships Wuzhishan and Qilianshan docked at the same time in  Colombo.  

A top defence officer said India did not raise objection because Sri Lanka acted lawfully in this regard.

“We cannot say no when there is a request for replenishment,” he said.  

Mr. Doval’s engagement with the Sri Lankan presidential candidates is an attempt to make that Sri Lanka remain firm with India.