Ranil Wickremesinghe, the former Sri Lankan President and Guest of Honor at the NXT Conclave 2025, sat down for a quick Q&A to discuss the future of South Asia, particularly focusing on Sri Lanka’s evolving relationships with India and China.
Q1: Talking about the future of South Asia and particularly the relationship between India and Sri Lanka, how do you envisage it in light of the new government that has been formed recently, and the Prime Minister’s first visit to India after his election?
Wickremesinghe: “Traditionally, the president and prime minister’s first international visit is to India. During my tenure, I worked closely with Prime Minister Modi. When Sri Lanka faced significant economic challenges, India extended a substantial $4.5 billion assistance, which helped stabilize our economy. This assistance was not just a result of trade agreements but also aligned with India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy. Unlike China or Japan, which had stricter financial conditions, India stepped in when we needed help. Moving forward, I envisioned projects that would benefit both countries. One key initiative was renewable energy, where we hoped to generate up to 50 gigawatts, and also the development of Trincomalee as a regional logistics hub. Despite some setbacks with the wind power project, I am optimistic about our future collaboration. The key is not to view these as isolated projects, but as part of a larger, integrated plan to propel both Sri Lanka and India toward a trillion-dollar economy. Expanding this collaboration to include other nations like Indonesia, Thailand, and Bangladesh could bring immense benefits to the region.”
Q2: What is your perspective on China’s growing influence in the subcontinent, particularly Sri Lanka, considering recent events like the Chinese research vessels at Sri Lanka’s ports and the Hambantota lease? Are these concerns something the Sri Lankan regime is looking to address?
Wickremesinghe: “Regarding the Chinese research ships, I took steps to halt their activities temporarily. Upon review, I realized that while other countries were conducting surveys in Sri Lanka, we weren’t benefiting commercially from it. We needed to ensure that any foreign activity in our waters brought tangible benefits. Thus, I halted the surveys until Parliament could address the issue. As for the projects in Colombo, China has taken control of one of the terminals, while Adani has the other. At Hambantota, the deal is designed solely for commercial purposes. While it’s true that the Chinese presence has been significant, Sri Lanka retains full control over its strategic military capabilities. We have already moved our Southern Naval Command to Hambantota and are strengthening our Navy’s anti-submarine capacity. These strategic moves ensure that Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and security are upheld, despite external involvement in our infrastructure.”
