President Ranil Wickremesinghe has voiced strong disapproval of the Indian government’s criticism of Sri Lanka at the United Nations regarding the issue of Sri Lankan Tamils. In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Wickremesinghe expressed his disagreement, stating, “I don’t agree with Indian comments. I was surprised that India criticized our record.”
Acknowledging the potential for Sri Lanka to become a battleground in the geopolitical power struggle between India and China, President Ranil Wickremesinghe assured that his country would not compromise the security of its South Asian neighbor. Reflecting on historical tensions, he remarked, “It can happen in Sri Lankan politics. In 1988, the presence of Indian troops was a major issue.”
The recent visits of Chinese ‘spy ships’ to ports in Sri Lanka have raised security concerns in India, but Wickremesinghe asserted that it would not adversely affect bilateral ties. “India is worried about its own security. We won’t do anything to hurt India’s security. We have told New Delhi that we will check on research ships. Sri Lanka is an independent country; why should our friendship depend on these issues?” he emphasized.
