India has enormous security and strategic interests in Sri Lanka and it is ready to reinforce economic engagement with its southern neighbor ata time where the country is engulfed with widespread rioting of the people..
These attacks had been carried out by ruling party supporters against crowds protesting at the government’s handling of the economic crisis at Galle face green in Colombo injuring 78 people.
This unruly attack triggered countrywide riots of the people against ruling party local government members and parliamentarians who were behind the attack on anti government protesters.
Police said violence throughout the island on Monday 09 has resulted in eight deaths and number of arson attacks on houses and properties.More than 230 have been injured in those incidents.
47 vehicles and 38 houses came under arson attack, while 41 vehicles and 65 houses had been severely damaged. Most of the vehicles and houses destroyed belonged to former ministers or MPs of the ruling party.
In this back drop of socio economic instability and public unrest, ironies abound as India hastens to come to the aid of Sri Lanka, a close neighbour, ravaged by economic mismanagement and food and fuel shortages, diplomatic sources said.
The dire state of the Sri Lankan economy, probably its worst ever, has provided India with its best chance to regain primacy in the region after the Covid pandemic and some unfortunate domestic decisions saw its vaunted ‘neighbourhood first’ policy in deep distress, political analyts said.
As a close neighbour, India has reiterated its support for the democracy, stability and economic recovery of Sri Lanka.
The official spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs has conveyed this in response to media queries on the recent developments on the island nation, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said.
“As a close neighbour of Sri Lanka, with historical ties, India is fully supportive of its (Sri Lanka’s) democracy, stability and economic recovery.”
The spokesperson also recalled that India, in keeping with its Neighbourhood First policy, has extended this year alone support worth over US$ 3.5 billion to Sri Lanka to help overcome the ongoing crises.
India has also expressed willingness to commit up to another $2 billion in financial assistance to Sri Lanka while also supporting the island nation with food and fuel.
Official spokesman noted that “India will always be guided by the best interests of the people of Sri Lanka expressed through democratic processes.”
