Indian HC says Defence pact with Lanka has no unstated objectives

Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha characterised 2025 as a year of "re-energising and reaffirmation" in India-Sri Lanka relations, reiterating India's substantial aid package for cyclone recovery while steering clear of commentary on Sri Lanka's domestic fiscal policies and the broader strategic context of a bilateral defence pact.

- BY SANATH NANAYAKKARE

Addressing the media in Colombo yesterday, Jha highlighted the elevated levels of "trust, goodwill and friendship" between the two nations, evidenced by a series of high-level exchanges.

These included Prime Minister Narendra Modi's April visit-during which he received Sri Lanka's highest honour for foreign leaders-and the October visit of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.

A significant portion of the interaction focused on India's response to Cyclone Ditwah. Under "Operation Sagar Bandhu", India dispatched naval ships, aircraft, disaster response teams and engineers, delivering more than 1,100 tonnes of relief material. Jha announced a new USD 450 million assistance package comprising USD 350 million in concessional credit and USD 100 million in grantsfor rehabilitation across five key sectors: connectivity infrastructure, housing, health, education, agriculture and disas ter preparedness.