India’s envoy to Sri Lanka has called for a shift in mindset to overcome past hesitations and actively pursue common goals.
Santosh Jha, the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, has emphasized the importance of a robust partnership between India and Sri Lanka, highlighting the intertwined destinies of the two nations.
Speaking on the need for collaboration at the 45th National Conference of CA Sri Lanka, High Commissioner Jha underscored the shared geography, history, and future that bind the two countries.
“We must work hand in hand and grow and prosper together. Like it or not, we are naturally intertwined and interlinked by geography, history, tradition, and by our future. We are irreplaceable, indispensable, and inextricable as partners,” stated High Commissioner Jha. He warned that any attempts to create divisions would be detrimental to both nations’ shared aspirations and future.
High Commissioner Jha called for a shift in mindset to overcome past hesitations and actively pursue common goals.
He noted the rapid changes and complexities of the modern world, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, which has become a hub of global growth and dynamism. “The Indo-Pacific today is the center of activity. It is the epicenter of global growth and dynamism,” he said.
Highlighting India’s economic trajectory, Jha mentioned predictions that India could become the world’s second-largest economy by 2050. He pointed out that India’s Prime Minister has set a target for the country to become a developed nation by 2047, marking 100 years of independence. “India is clearly emerging as a key player in this ongoing rebalancing. Our share of the global GDP growth too is rising exponentially,” he added.
Jha emphasized the strategic opportunity for Sri Lanka, as India’s closest maritime neighbor, to integrate with India’s growth engine and leverage this relationship for its own economic revival. He also noted the shift from the G7 to the G20 as the primary forum for addressing global growth and challenges, reflecting the changing global order.
“The ongoing shifts in global order also imply that traditional institutions like the UN, WTO, and WHO are increasingly inadequate to deal with contemporary realities,” Jha remarked.
He also advocated for a connectivity corridor between India and Sri Lanka to enhance access to global markets and opportunities.
High Commissioner Jha also elaborated on India’s people-centric foreign policy towards Sri Lanka. He highlighted that the benefits to the people are the primary benchmark of India’s efforts. “India is looking at assisting development of Sri Lanka through investments and grants and relatively less through debt instruments. This, we believe, serves Sri Lanka better given its recent experiences with debt burdens,” he said.
“Our development projects are now implemented in all 25 districts of Sri Lanka. We have completed 60 grant projects and are implementing 16 more at this time,” Jha detailed. He also reaffirmed India’s support for Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring efforts, securing IMF support, and extending bilateral financial support to overcome immediate challenges.
High Commissioner Jha reiterated the necessity for India and Sri Lanka to work together, transcending old mindsets and focusing on shared goals to ensure mutual prosperity and stability in the region.