As part of a series of agreements, New Delhi and Columbo are exploring deals that will boost India’s strategic interests, especially around the Trincomalee harbour. Among the mechanisms are the supply of Dornier surveillance aircraft to the Sri Lankan Air Force, a ship repair dock at Trincomalee for the Sri Lankan Navy, and the suggestion of posting a Sri Lankan naval officer to the Intelligence Fusion Center, which is a Bahrain-based office that shares intel to combat international terrorism and the narcotics trade, as well as ensuring safe international passage for commercial vessels in the region.
The Indian government is also interested in starting a renewable energy project in and around Sampur near Trincomalee, and some of the economic projects could figure in the agenda when the Sri Lankan Finance Minister visits India later this month.
Over the last six months, Sri Lankan ministers and Indian officials have been visiting each other’s capitals to put the Lankan economy back on track. Colombo has identified eight sectors which they want to integrate with India for economic revival.
