Colombo just got a little more accessible. Air India will resume its additional flight between New Delhi and Colombo from July 15. The message is clear: India stands in solidarity with Sri Lanka, and it is a willing partner in its rebuilding.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Sri Lanka on Sunday for a brief visit, the first ever foreign dignitary to visit the island country after the Easter bombings. As usual, Modi’s out-reach was not without symbolism. His first stop was St. Antony’s church, the site of the bombing, where he said: “Cowardly acts of terror cannot defeat the spirit of Sri Lanka... I am confident Sri Lanka will rise again. India stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka."
The resumption of the flight to Colombo, at a time when the country’s tourism has been hit badly, is another signal that India is doing more than just expressing solidarity. In Modi’s second term, Neighbourhood First will be much more nuanced, and it will be led by projects that promote better people-to-people ties. It will certainly be less of big brother. “Kind brother’’ is how one official in the ministry of external affairs put it.
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In Sri Lanka, for the first time India is making history by partnering with Japan to develop the Sri Lankan Port Authority. An MoU has been signed under which the Sri Lankan Port Authority, which is a PSU under the government of Sri Lanka, will hold the majority share and the remaining share will be held between entities of Japan and India.
This unique combination is an experiment, and an important one. India has the reputation of being a willing friend, but not a great implementer of projects. It is this shift—if it replicated—has the potential of being game-changer.
“I think our objective is that infrastructure development in our region benefits our economy and the economy of that country. We recognise that we have limited capabilities, within those capabilities we are making all efforts bilaterally, but when major foreign investors like Japan are also willing to join projects which are of our national interest, we have no objection in doing it with them. This is a model I can say you will see not just in Sri Lanka but in a couple of other neighboring countries as well in the coming days,’’ said Vijay Gokhale, foreign secretary, at a media briefing.
India might not be able to outspend China in the region, but it is taking a leaf out of the Beatles song “Money, can’t you buy love’’. And in an effort to be just that, India is choosing to win hearts. With China’s rise in the region—especially with its willingness to dole out money—this is just what is needed.