On January 18, 2020 the National Security Advisor (NSA) of India Shri Ajit Doval paid a day long visit to Colombo in the Island nation of Sri Lanka (SL). On his visit, Shri Doval met the president of SL shri Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa and held talks on various bilateral issues. The highlights of the visit in detail are as follows:
$50 million assistance to SL:
i.India pledged to provide $50 million security assistance to Sri Lanka for purchasing equipment for its security forces.
- This assistance will help SL to further strengthen its national security, intelligence sharing, maritime security etc which were the key areas discussed by both Doval and the SL president.
- Assistance to Srilanka by India comes days after Russia announced to Assist SL. Moreover, SL saw series of high ranking foreign officials visit in the country from the United States(US), Japan and China.
Maritime research coordination centre:
i.SL and India vowed to strengthen military ties and also to widen their maritime links with neighbours. After the talks, NSA Ajit Doval discussed on setting up of a maritime research coordination centre in SL.
Ajit Doval:
i.He is the second highest ranking Indian official to visit Colombo, SL after Gotabaya Rajapaksa assumed office in November 2019.
- Previously, Minister of External Affairs(MEA) Shri Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was the 1st foreign dignitary to visit Sri Lanka.
ii.During his visit, Ajit Doval also met several foreign diplomats in Colombo and held discussions with them on issues related to mutual interest.
Last visit by SL president to India:
i.Shri Gotabaya Rajabaksa visited India In December 2019 marking his 1st overseas visit after winning the presidential elections and met Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Shri Modi also offered $450 million in aid to Sri Lanka.
About Sri Lanka:
Capitals- Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Currency- Sri Lankan rupee
President- Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime minister- Mahinda Rajapaksa (original name Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa).
