Lankan Foreign Secretary says, Sri Lanka will follow 'India First' policy', a diplomatic

Sri Lanka has insisted on further deepening its relations with India. Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage has said that Sri Lanka wants to pursue a neutral foreign policy, but will maintain an ‘India First’ approach in strategic and security matters.

Speaking to the Sri Lankan TV channel, Columbus said, the President (Gotabaya Rajapaksa) has said that in terms of strategic security, we will follow the ‘India First’ policy. We cannot and should not be a strategic security threat to India.

He said we need to benefit from India. The President has stated that you are our priority as far as security is concerned, but I have to build better relations with other countries for economic prosperity. Colombage said, with advancing neutral foreign policy, Sri Lanka would protect India’s strategic interests. The Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary said in his statement, the decision to grant Hambantota port to China on a 99-year lease was a mistake.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently met with his counterpart Dinesh Gunvardhan. He arrived in Sri Lanka after Rajapaksa’s team came to power. Looking at the history of the Rajapaksa government, it has been seen much closer to China than India, which has affected the relationship between India and Sri Lanka.

The issue that India would like to resolve with Sri Lanka includes the Eastern Container Terminal, where locals are opposing the project. Sources said that in their private talks, Sri Lanka has assured India of protecting its interests, but it has to be formalized.