The two-day visit is expected to see some announcements
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is expected to visit Colombo on 19th January, Thursday, for two days to meet stakeholders and discuss debt restructuring. Jaishankar, who is unwell, is likely to extend his stay by one more day in Colombo. He is a member of the cabinet committee on security. Therefore his visit assumes significance. There was a briefing meeting between the Foreign Office and the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in New Delhi. This is aimed at understanding Sri Lanka from a security point of view. Jaishanker will use his stay to ensure that Sri Lanka supports India’s turn for its membership in UN Security Council. Also, he will invite Colombo for a G20 meeting in September 2023
Sri Lanka is set to begin consultations with India. China, another major lender, continues to drag its feet. After concluding debt restructuring talks with Japan, the Sri Lankan government made clear its plans to privatize Sri Lanka Telecom and Sri Lankan Airlines.
Sri Lanka was hit by an unprecedented financial crisis in 2022, the worst since its independence from Britain in 1948, due to a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves, sparking political turmoil in the country which led to the ouster of the all-powerful Rajapaksa family.
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Sri Lanka cannot do political blackmail.
India should do a straight talk with Sri Lanka & state if they want to go to bed with China they are free for rest of its existence & should not expect single paisa from India nor trade with India.
Sri Lanka citizens should be a party to such bedroom tilt towards China.