India to revive defence ties with Sri Lanka

Indian Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar will visit Colombo to initiate defence contacts with a post-LTTE Sri Lanka, Indian government sources said.

Mr. Kumar will be in Sri Lanka from December 24 to 27 to examine the prospects of peacetime cooperation in defence. “It is important that we have a framework for peacetime relationship. So far we have had a wartime relationship,” the sources said.

The Defence Secretary’s visit could also see the beginning of the first annual defence dialogue between the two countries. This mechanism was agreed upon by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa during their summit meeting here in June.

Courses for officers

India will find it difficult to offer more courses to the Sri Lankan military officers because their enrolment in the armed forces institutes here is already at an all-time high. There could be some cooperation in replacing Sri Lanka’s war reserves that were exhausted while countering the LTTE. There could also be some collaboration in enhancing the maritime domain awareness and capability. One indication of the latter was the recent Colombo visit by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma, although it was billed as a purely ceremonial visit.

“The Defence Secretary will try to ascertain what Sri Lanka wants to do. It can’t demobilise one lakh personnel without causing social unrest. We have to find out whether it wants to enhance its air defence and artillery capabilities. We have to find out in what direction this will lead,” said sources.

Diplomatic sources pointed to the need for temperance when dealing with Sri Lanka, and understanding the context in which it also depends on China. In 2007 and 2008, China and Pakistan were important for Sri Lanka as it depended on them for lethal arms to take on the LTTE after India restrained itself from playing this role. China also overcame its resource constraints and was willing to assist Sri Lanka economically, though this aid had a strategic sub-text. It also has the ability to deliver on the ground, in time and within the promised budget.

Call for holistic view

“India should not have a knee-jerk reaction. It should take a holistic view. China took up the Hambantota port only because India had declined. In this respect, the Sri Lankans say if you don’t want to help us in some aspects, it is all right. But don’t resent it, if we approach someone else,” said the sources.

The revival of defence ties will give a fuller content to the overall relationship. New Delhi has committed an assistance of $1.7 billion to Sri Lanka, the highest to any country, and there is little reason why defence should remain outside the ambit of ties.

In late August, top-level security managers from both sides briefly touched on the defence aspect during a meeting here. India was represented by National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Mr. Kumar. The Sri Lankan side had Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, and Senior Adviser to the President Basil Rajapaksa, the Hindu reports.