AKD’s India visit : “Classic diplomatic deal-making”
The visit of Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to India this week — his first trip overseas since becoming leader of his country — saw some classic diplomatic deal-making, with give and take on both sides.
AKD, as he is popularly known, committed to not allowing the use of Sri Lankan territory for any anti-Indian activities.
“I have given an assurance to the Prime Minister…that we will not have our land…used in…a manner that is detrimental to the interest of India,” Dissanayake said after bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.
The joint statement said “President Disanayake reiterated Sri Lanka’s stated position of not permitting its territory to be used in any manner inimical to the security of India as well as towards regional stability.”
This was a signal to China — whose “research vessels” frequently visit Sri Lanka, and are seen with suspicion in New Delhi. The fact that the President, who is seen as being pro-China, has clearly articulated this position is a relief to India.
On the issue of Tamil minorities, however, AKD did not yield to the formulation preferred by New Delhi. There was no explicit mention of the implementation of the 13th amendment in the Sri Lankan Constitution, which gives powers to the Tamil minority — a long-standing demand of the Indian government. AKD does not support the implementation of the amendment, and has opposed any investigation into alleged war crimes during the last phase of the civil war between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan military.
Modi said the two leaders had discussed “reconciliation and reconstruction” in Sri Lanka, and hoped that the Sri Lankan government would “fully implement the Constitution and fulfil its commitment to hold provincial council elections”.
AKD, on his part, mentioned unity, social protection, and sustainable development. “Diversity”, he said, is the “cornerstone of democracy”.
The joint statement suggested that the new establishment in Sri Lanka had got its way in its framing.