India calls for deeper ties with Sri Lanka as China looms

COLOMBO: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared Friday his desire for a "quantum jump" in relations with Sri Lanka, as New Delhi jostles with regional rival Beijing for influence in the island nation, reports AFP. India had always considered its smaller neighbour to be within its sphere of influence but watched Sri Lanka drift closer to China under former strongman President Mahinda Rajapakse.
Modi's visit to Sri Lanka -- his second since coming to power in 2014 -- is being seen as New Delhi's attempt to win back support and counter Beijing's push for closer ties with the Indian Ocean nation. "I believe we are at a moment of great opportunity in our ties with Sri Lanka. An opportunity to achieve a quantum jump in our partnership across different fields," Modi told a Buddhist conference in Colombo.
His comments came as Sri Lanka rebuffed a Chinese request to dock a submarine at one of its ports. Chinese-backed projects soared under Rajapakse, who relied heavily on Beijing for economic and diplomatic support as Western nations threatened his administration with sanctions over atrocities committed during the decades-long civil war which ended in 2009. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena came to power in January 2015 promising to review Chinese-funded projects signed by his predecessor and rebuild ties with India. In Beijing, China's foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuan said they were aware of the reports, but stressed both sides maintained "good cooperation." "China and Sri Lanka enjoy good friendship," he said.

India calls for deeper ties with Sri Lanka as China looms

COLOMBO: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared Friday his desire for a quantum jump in relations with Sri Lanka, as New Delhi jostles with regional rival Beijing for influence in the island nation, reports AFP. India had always considered its smaller neighbour to be within its sphere of influence but watched Sri Lanka drift closer to China under former strongman President Mahinda Rajapakse. Modis visit to Sri Lanka -- his second since coming to power in 2014 -- is being seen as New Delhis attempt to win back support and counter Beijings push for closer ties with the Indian Ocean nation. I believe we are at a moment of great opportunity in our ties with Sri Lanka. An opportunity to achieve a quantum jump in our partnership across different fields, Modi told a Buddhist conference in Colombo. His comments came as Sri Lanka rebuffed a Chinese request to dock a submarine at one of its ports. Chinese-backed projects soared under Rajapakse, who relied heavily on Beijing for economic and diplomatic support as Western nations threatened his administration with sanctions over atrocities committed during the decades-long civil war which ended in 2009. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena came to power in January 2015 promising to review Chinese-funded projects signed by his predecessor and rebuild ties with India. In Beijing, Chinas foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuan said they were aware of the reports, but stressed both sides maintained good cooperation. China and Sri Lanka enjoy good friendship, he said.