Asanga Abeyagoonasekera on the India-Sri Lanka Defense Cooperation Agreement

Asanga Abeyagoonasekera on the India-Sri Lanka Defense Cooperation Agreement

“The DCA marks a significant strategic shift, drawing Sri Lanka more firmly into India’s regional security calculus.”

Strategy Over Spectacle: Modi’s “Mitra Vibhooshana” and the New Contours of India–Sri Lanka Relations

The “Mitra Vibhooshana” award recognises Modi’s consistent support to Sri Lanka, especially during its worst financial and political crisis in 2022–23 when India extended nearly $4 billion in financial aid, including lines of credit, currency swaps, and much more. Dissanayake’s move also shows an attempt by the new government to engage in a balanced foreign policy, diverging from reliance on a single external player.  The very fact that Colombo …