Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has emphasized the vast potential for India and Sri Lanka to deepen economic cooperation, noting that such efforts would be mutually beneficial due to the complementary nature of their bilateral ties.
Doval made these remarks during a meeting with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Prime Minister’s Office in Colombo yesterday (29), according to the Prime Minister’s Media Division.
During the meeting, Doval expressed India’s interest in expanding cooperation with Sri Lanka and sought the Prime Minister’s views on key areas for collaboration. In response, Prime Minister Gunawardena identified the energy sector as a priority, thanking India for supporting various alternative energy projects. He noted that the government has initiated amendments to Ceylon Electricity Board regulations to enable private sector participation in electricity generation and distribution, potentially increasing Indian investments in solar and wind power projects.
Doval suggested that, in the long term, Sri Lanka could produce more power than needed domestically and export the excess to India, generating substantial financial returns. He cited Bhutan’s success in selling hydroelectric power to India, which serves as a major revenue source for the country.
The Prime Minister highlighted Sri Lanka’s Theravada economic policy, rooted in ancient economic practices from India during the time of Gautama Buddha, and noted how these could complement modern economic development. He also expressed gratitude to India for providing training to members of the armed forces and public servants to improve their skills and efficiency.
The National Security Advisor led a high-level delegation, including High Commissioner Santosh Jha, Additional Secretary Puneet Agrawal, and senior officials Akshay Joshi, Gaurav Aluwhalia, and Teja Chandan. Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake, Additional Secretary Harsha Wijewardene, and Advisor Sugeeswara Senadhira also participated in the discussion.
