Day 78 – Q.3 How has India strengthened its economic and strategic ties with Sri Lanka in the face of Chinese competition? Explain.

How has India strengthened its economic and strategic ties with Sri Lanka in the face of Chinese competition? Explain.

चीनी प्रतिस्पर्धा के सामने भारत ने श्रीलंका के साथ अपने आर्थिक और रणनीतिक संबंधों को कैसे मजबूत किया है? व्याख्या करें।

Approach

Candidates can start the answer with giving basic idea about India and Sri Lanka ties and then simply explain Indian efforts to counter China economically and strategically.

Introduction

India has been working to strengthen its economic and strategic ties with Sri Lanka in recent years. These efforts are aimed at enhancing cooperation and promoting stability in the region, as well as boosting economic growth and development in both countries.

Body

Some of the key measures taken by India to enhance its ties with Sri Lanka and counter China include:

• Economic cooperation: India has been investing in Sri Lanka’s infrastructure, including the development of ports and highways. This has helped to improve connectivity between the two countries and has boosted trade and investment. India’s investments in Sri Lanka are aimed at countering China’s influence in the region.
• Development assistance: India has been providing development assistance to Sri Lanka in areas such as health, education, and water supply. This assistance is aimed at promoting economic development and reducing poverty in Sri Lanka.
• Defense cooperation: India and Sri Lanka have a close defense partnership, which includes cooperation in areas such as maritime security, intelligence sharing, and counter-terrorism. This is important for India as it seeks to maintain its strategic influence in the region.
• Cultural and people-to-people ties: India and Sri Lanka share close cultural and people-to-people ties, with a large number of people in Sri Lanka having cultural and religious ties to India. India has been working to enhance these ties by promoting cultural exchanges, tourism, and education.
• Regional cooperation: India and Sri Lanka are both members of regional organizations such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). The two countries are working together to enhance regional cooperation and promote economic integration.

Conclusion

Overall, India’s efforts to strengthen its economic and strategic ties with Sri Lanka are aimed at countering China’s influence in the region. India’s investments in Sri Lanka are intended to provide an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. By enhancing its ties with Sri Lanka, India seeks to promote economic growth and development in the region, while maintaining its strategic interests.