Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya stated that India's "Neighbourhood First" policy is beneficial to all neighboring countries. Amarasuriya made this statement while delivering the keynote address at the NDTV World Summit on "Steering Change in Uncertain Times". She also expressed gratitude to India for its support during Sri Lanka's economic crisis in 2022, stating that India "redefined leadership" during the crisis.
Amarasuriya highlighted that India's proactive engagement has strengthened economic, cultural, and diplomatic relations between the two nations. She emphasized that India's initiatives helped Sri Lanka recover during its difficult economic period and reinforced trust and collaboration in sectors such as energy, transport, and infrastructure.
Referring to India's support during Sri Lanka's 2022 financial crisis, Amarasuriya said that New Delhi's intervention in supplying essential commodities, facilitating trade credits, and backing economic reforms was crucial in averting a deeper crisis. As part of its "Neighbourhood First" policy during the 2022 economic crisis in Sri Lanka, New Delhi had extended a Line of Credit of $500 million in February of that year for the purchase of petroleum products from India. The next month, a $1 billion Credit Facility was extended for the supply of essential items including food items, medicines, and fuel.
The Prime Minister also noted that the policy encourages stronger cooperation among South Asian nations, promoting stability, development, and peace across the region. She stressed that such engagement ensures that smaller nations receive timely assistance during crises and fosters mutual growth.
Amarasuriya, who had studied in India, said being back in Delhi "feels like coming a full circle". She also said that the presidential and parliamentary elections achieved a clear mandate for a forward-looking Sri Lanka and that Sri Lanka has restructured its debt and is digitizing its public structure.
Looking forward to the continuation of India-Sri Lanka ties, Amarasuriya said this can be extended on multiple frontiers including trade routes, with updation of the 37-year-old free trade agreement, regional cooperation, energy security including renewable energy development and strategically, the security in the Indian Ocean.
The Sri Lankan Prime Minister is on her first official visit to India from October 16 to 18. During her visit, she is scheduled to meet with Indian political leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to discuss key bilateral issues. Her visit also includes a focus on education, technology, and economic cooperation. As Sri Lanka's Education Minister, she will visit the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and NITI Aayog to explore collaborative opportunities in education and technology. In addition, she will participate in a business event aimed at strengthening commercial linkages between India and Sri Lanka, reinforcing economic cooperation alongside cultural and educational ties.
