During a meeting between Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Modi stated the need for the government to “carry forward the process of reconciliation” and to implement the Thirteen Amendment, which relates to devolving power to provincial councils across the island.
In a statement Modi said;
“I am confident that the Government of Sri Lanka will realize the expectations of the Tamil people for equality, justice, peace, and respect within a united Sri Lanka. For this, it will be necessary to carry forward the process of reconciliation with the implementation of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka.”
During the meeting, Modi and Rajapaksa discussed improving bi-lateral trading relationships with a particular focus on regional security, connectivity, investment and business.
India has frequently trained many Sri Lankan officers, which have been accused of war crimes, in anti-terrorism techniques. Both Sri Lanka and India are accused of regressive counter-terrorism measures such as Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Indian Public Security Act which enables authorities to detain subjects without a trial. The PTA has been linked to cases of enforced disappearances, sexual violence and torture. Several Sri Lankan regimes have been criticised for the failure to repeal the PTA, despite widespread criticism from human rights defenders and international NGOs.
In November of last year, the Colombo Page notes, that India offered Sri Lanka “$400 million credit line to Sri Lanka for development of its infrastructure and economy”. A further $50 million was offered in terms of supporting security.
Read more from the New York Times, Colombo Page and Daily Mirror.
