Anura meets Jaishankar, Ajit Doval in India; discusses economic challenges and regional security

By Ajith Siriwardana

NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is in India on an official invitation by the Indian government, held a discussion with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr.S. Jaishankar and India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval yesterday, where they discussed matters concerning political situation in Sri Lanka and regional security.
The meeting with Dr.S.Jaishankar took place at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi yesterday morning while the meeting with Ajit Doval was held at Sardar Patel Bhavan yesterday afternoon.

The meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister had focused on the economy and political situation in Sri Lanka and its political future.
They have also discussed strengthening mutual benefits between the two countries.

Indian External Affairs Minister Dr.S.Jaishankar posted on X saying that he was pleased to meet the Leader of NPP and the JVP of Sri Lanka and that they had a good discussion on bilateral relationship and the mutual benefits from its further deepening.

“Pleased to meet Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Leader of NPP and JVP of Sri Lanka this morning. A good discussion on our bilateral relationship and the mutual benefits from its further deepening. Also spoke about Sri Lanka’s economic challenges and the path ahead,” he said.

“India, with its Neighbourhood First and SAGAR policies, will always be a reliable friend and trusted partner of Sri Lanka,” he said.
The meeting with Ajit Doval had focused on matters concerning regional security and bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile,Indian media reported that the NPP delegation is on a five-day, three-city visit, covering New Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Thiruvananthapuram.
The Hindu reported that the visit and meetings assume greater significance, coinciding with Mr. Dissanayake’s rising popularity in the domestic political sphere, that too in a crucial election year. This is the first time New Delhi has invited the JVP leader.

“The party, which has in the past fiercely opposed “Indian expansionism”, has since shifted its stance, signalling readiness to engage with diverse international actors with an interest in Sri Lanka.

New Delhi hosting the JVP leader has drawn attention in the island nation, where Mr. Dissanayake has seen a notable rise in popularity — seen in local opinion polls — after Sri Lanka’s economic crisis in 2022, when a staggering mass uprising booted out former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Going by local surveys, many citizens, evidently disenchanted with Sri Lanka’s two main political camps alternating at the country’s helm, appear keen to give the JVP, the third, a chance in a likely election this year,” the Hindu reported.
NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath, NPP Secretary Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe and National Executive Member Prof. Anil Jayantha are currently on an official visit to India. 

-The meeting with Dr.S.Jaishankar took place at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi yesterday morning while the meeting with Ajit Doval was held at Sardar Patel Bhavan yesterday afternoon