Among the various projects that will be inaugurated today is the solar power plant that would be inaugurated virtually. An MoU is also going to be signed on the defence front between the nations.
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00:00Well, one, where I am is, let me just explain to you where I am at right now.
00:06This is the Independence Square.
00:08This is where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Narendra Modi will be coming
00:12right behind me.
00:13They're laying down the red carpet for the leadership to arrive.
00:18And this is where he'll receive the guard of honor.
00:21The forces over here, the bands of the multiple forces were practicing just a while ago.
00:29Then sometime you'll also be seeing the senior army officials, officials of the Sri Lankan
00:36government come.
00:38Many of them are assessing the situation on the ground.
00:41But yes, let's go back to your question on what can be expected today.
00:46After the ceremonial reception over here, Prime Minister Modi and President Narendra
00:50Modi will be getting into a restricted-level dialogue at the President's Secretariat, followed
00:56by delegation-level talks.
00:58There are important inaugurations that are going to happen, whether it is the solar power
01:03plant, which will be virtually inaugurated by the leaders.
01:08It is a very important aspect in terms of energy cooperation between the two sides.
01:14But we're also looking at a lot of important cooperation in various sectors.
01:20The most important and key one is going to be an MOU that's going to be signed on the
01:25defense front.
01:27Now, India and Sri Lanka have had a lot of defense cooperation, training, so on and so
01:33forth.
01:34But this defense agreement is a milestone.
01:39It's going to be historic.
01:41India has concerns with regards to Sri Lanka.
01:44Every time there's a change in government, the leanings change.
01:47Pro-China governments, when they're here in Sri Lanka, it becomes difficult for New Delhi
01:53to engage Colombo.
01:54But there has also been a realization in Colombo that irrespective of which government is in
02:00power over here and who they side with, when Sri Lanka is in need, India becomes the first
02:07responder.
02:08And therefore, the assistance, aid, railway projects that are going to be inaugurated
02:13in Anuradhapura, and the religious and cultural connect that the prime minister is going to
02:19emphasize by going to Anuradhapura.
02:21So there's a lot that's going to happen, but there are about 10 agreements and MOUs that
02:26are likely to be signed.
02:28The most important of them is going to be the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense,
02:33which will entail training as also joint exercises between the two countries.
02:38Well, like I said, the defense cooperation agreement between the two sides is going to
02:43be something that is going to be important.
02:46There is going to be exchange of not just training of personnel, but exchange of information
02:53between the two sides.
02:54There are going to be joint exercises.
02:57One will not be surprised if Sri Lanka continues to engage China.
03:02That is Sri Lanka in its best or worst.
03:07You see them not just balance ties like they did in the past, sometimes also use one card
03:15against the other.
03:17President Sinaike has visited Beijing, has had contacts, and engaged them on the Belt
03:26and Road Initiative as well.
03:28So while they are engaging India with a lot of fervor, there is a traditional engagement
03:36that continues with Beijing.
03:38There's a lot of pledging in terms of assistance and aid, but also money for projects.
03:45So there are important projects where Chinese are involved, which also includes the critical
03:50Hambantota port, which is on lease to China.
03:56So there are many strategic assets that India has to look at when it comes to how China
04:02has its influence here in Sri Lanka and this island nation.
04:06Having said that, India and Sri Lanka are looking to increase their engagement.
04:12A defense agreement between the two countries is one way of doing it, and a step forward
04:19when it comes to looking at the countries, looking at their strategic aspects.
04:24And when national interests converge with regional interests, and when defense agreements
04:29are signed, they also become mutual.
04:32So in many aspects, we'd be looking at how mutually the two countries are going to engage
04:37in Sagar diplomacy to secure the Indian Ocean waters.