Indian HC explains how Covid-19, Russia-Ukraine conflict expanded India’s role in SL
Indian HC Santosh Jha yesterday (10) explained how the worldwide Covid-19 epidemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict had enhanced the Indo-Lanka ‘relationship.’Addressing the India-Sri Lanka Defence Seminar at the Taj, Jha said: “Like in other areas, we are cooperating closely on security and defence matters. Because of our geography, our security is interlinked and intertwined. And when we speak of security, we must remember that it has acquired a wider meaning than we have traditionally associated with it.
After the pandemic and impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, it has come to include energy, health, food and even economic security, Jha said.
“This is because technology now permeates all aspects of our lives, and looking at security through a narrow and segmented lens is no longer possible. Our response, therefore, must keep this wider definition in mind. We must also act accordingly to address security in its entirety keeping the complex inter-linkages in mind.”
Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva and service commanders and senior officers representing the armed forces and police were present. State Defence Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon and Additional Secretary, Department of Defence Production from India Anurag Bajpai and representatives from the Indian Defence Industry were present.
Emphasizing the pivotal importance of Indo-Lanka relations, Jha said: “For us, as close and proximate neighbours, cooperation is the only option. It is not driven by choice and opportunity alone. Our approach to Sri Lanka is guided by our neighbourhood-first policy and our SAGAR vision. This entails that we share with our closest neighbours all that we can based on their needs and aspirations.
It also entails that our approach remains generous and non-reciprocal.”
Jha said that India’s support in recent years to Sri Lanka, during the pandemic and the economic crisis, was driven by their sense of responsibility and obligation for closest friend and neighbour. “Many of you will agree that India is and will remain Sri Lanka’s most reliable friend and a trusted and dependable partner.”
Our bilateral cooperation is expanding and diversifying. It is buttressed by India’s growing national capabilities.
We now cooperate in wider range of areas including infrastructure and connectivity, deeper economic engagement, trade and investment, culture and education, tourism and people to people ties.
Declaring that India could offer high quality, low cost, and reliable technology in defence with an assured supply chain for long term maintenance support, Jha explained how in the recent years the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, which means self-reliant India, has led to significant capability development within the Indian defence industry.
The Government of India has promoted this vision through enabling policies and frameworks, initiatives such as establishment of defence industry corridors, and supporting and handholding different stakeholders.We have also promoted collaborations between private and government owned enterprises.
“Our efforts are showing rich dividends in the last one decade. The Indian defence industry today rolls out state-of-the-art systems, advanced technologies and world class equipment. To name a few, this ranges from fighter aircrafts and helicopters to naval vessels, from electronic warfare systems to cyber security solutions and from small arms to large caliber precision long range artillery systems.”
Not only are we producing for our own national requirements, but we have been willing to make these capabilities available to our friendly partner countries like Sri Lanka. In fact, our defence exports today stand at nearly 2.6 billion US Dollars. This is a ten-fold increase over the past five years. We export defence hardware and software to more than 85 countries with more than 100 indigenous firms active in this field.
