Sri Lanka expects India’s full support in fight against Indian Ocean drug trafficking

Sri Lanka expects India’s fullest support in combating drug trafficking in the Indian Ocean region, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said, as the Indian Ocean has increasingly become a hub for the trade.

The President made the remarks at a meeting with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Presidential Secretariat, during Singh’s official visit to Sri Lanka, the first by an Indian Defence Minister in 38 years.

The two leaders held wide-ranging talks on strengthening defence, economic, maritime and regional cooperation between the two countries. The President briefed Singh on Sri Lanka’s recently launched national programme to combat drug trafficking and said he expects India’s fullest support toward extraditing Sri Lankan drug traffickers currently imprisoned in India.

He thanked India for its support during Sri Lanka’s recent difficulties, including the Indian military’s role in restoring infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Ditwah. He said Sri Lanka would continue contributing to peace in the Indian Ocean region, noting that as a sovereign state, Sri Lanka enters into international agreements while remaining mindful of regional security and both national and regional interests.

Singh said Sri Lanka holds a special place in India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy and commended steps taken over the past two years to deepen bilateral ties. The fisheries issue was also discussed, with both sides focused on securing India’s support to safeguard the livelihoods of Sri Lankan fishermen.

Three agreements were exchanged following the talks: an upgrade of L70 guns for the Sri Lanka Air Force, academic cooperation between the two countries’ National Defence Colleges, and cooperation between the Sri Lanka and Indian Cadet Corps. The agreements were exchanged by Deputy Defence Minister Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha.

The two leaders also remotely opened three Bailey bridges in Kurunegala and Batticaloa districts, built with an Indian grant to restore road connectivity damaged by Cyclone Ditwah.

A high-level Indian defence and foreign affairs delegation, along with senior Sri Lankan officials, attended the meeting.