IN FOCUS
that the existing relationships could be bolstered to a higher
level for the benefi t of both countries.
I will fi rst deal with the few areas I thought should be
taken briefl y. If I name them they can be tagged as political,
economic, cultural, social, security, sharing of achievements
in the areas of education, technology, investments, trade,
tourism, etc. The list may be even larger.
Being two democracies we have been tied to the values
of democracy. There had been turbulent times experienced
by Sri Lanka and my personal understanding – please mind,
‘personal’ – is that India wishes to respect the neighbour as
a friend and to conduct a non-interventionist approach to
Sri Lankan politics. That does not mean that India is or was
unmindful or unconcerned of Sri Lankan politics. It was well
observed when we had the protracted terrorist confl ict. India
was very concerned as the infl uence of a terrorist victory for
a ‘separate state’ in Sri Lanka would have created negative
political ramifi cations in India too.
Security
India’s security ties had been very strong with us. It spread
to training, intelligence sharing, military exercises etc. In
positions I held in Sri Lanka made me to be privy to this
status. In fact, the covert intelligence assistance is observed
even lately, seen by intelligence sharing before the terrorist
attack that took place in mid-April last.
Of course, we had some military experiences in the late
eighties with the Indian Peace Keeping Forces. I consider
the fi nal outcome of IPKF experiences was loosening ties
between us, then strengthening. However, by now both
countries have made upon any misgiving, I presume. One
lesson –once again a personal conviction- that could be learnt
perhaps with IPKF experience is that there could be tolerance
limitations in dealing even with neighbours, who are friends
and relations.
Security of Sri Lanka has ramifi cations for India too.
I think the Indian Ocean maritime safety, trade routes,
movement of navies of powerful nations, etc. have become
important and sensitive international issues. Especially it is
so since several nations are involved in being partners of
these activities. Since these issues are yet being studied by
our countries, I keep them aside, as for now.
There are politico-security-economic related activities that
created disturbed relationships between the two countries.
Without going to details I quote the fi sheries problem on
the Palk Bay. There had been pointing fi ngers on either side
of the divide and I believe that reasonable, implementable,
sustainable actions should emerge for strengthening ties
through negotiations.
Economic Ties
However, the political understandings will aff ect the
strengthening of economic ties since the Indian Government
use budgeted funds to participate in development activities
in Sri Lanka. I mean the Indian Line of Credit and other
collaborations with foreign countries for economic activities
in Sri Lanka.
The incumbent Indian Government has tried to cooperate
and collaborate in economic projects. They were based on
understandings between the two Governments. I do not
think that the interests of the two Governments have reached
fruition as anticipated by such understandings, agreements,
etc. However, there are some private sector businesses from
Sri Lanka like Brandix Apparels Ltd., Damro Furniture,
and BoardPac IT Solutions, etc. that had been operating
successfully in India and this is true of Indian companies
in Sri Lanka too. In these cases, there had been suffi cient
integration of political and economic ties.
It is common knowledge that any economic activity,
for example, trade agreements or collaborative economic
projects or outreaching investments in both countries by
the other, are culminations involving politicians, policy
makers, development planners, economists, negotiators, etc.
separately or a combination of a few or many of them. They
are understandably biased towards their own countries. These
are complex and time-consuming activities. There are delays
in fi nal outputs and hence fi nal outcomes. These are matters
to be sorted out by some of us who are into such projects and
by Think Tanks who support the governments to conclude
such arrangements. I wish our deliberations could contribute
positively to such needs.
Tourism
I may now move on to the core of my speech, as mentioned
earlier.
As we are aware, tourism is a mainstay of our economy.
It is so due to several justifi cations. It has contributed to the
Sri Lankan economy $575.9 in 2010, $2.9 billion in 2015
and $4.4 billion in 2018 and a set target of $5.5. billion for
2019 exists.
Tourism has been developing at a fast pace, with hotel
room accommodation increasing from 14,714 rooms in 2010
to 18,954 in 2015 and 24,757 in 2018, which will be further
increased with new hotels being constructed now, including
a hotel owned by ITC India. Tourist arrivals has increased
from 654,476 in 2010 of which 126,882 (19.4%) had been
Indians to 1.8 million in 2015 of which 316,247 (17.5%) were
Indians to 2.3 million in 2018 of which Indians had been 424,
887 (18.2%) and from an estimated number of arrivals of
about three million by end 2019, we expect 550,000 visitors
from India.
Even after the tsunami devastation, which aff ected the
tourist industry, especially due to tourism infrastructures
being by the seaside, Sri Lanka has resurrected the industry
quickly. However, the April 2019 disaster is diff erent by
nature of the impact. We will get over the infrastructure
devastation that is comparatively small.
66 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 4 • April-May 2019, Noida