An Evaluation of Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s Trip to India

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mrs Harinin Amarasuria was on a state visit to India from October 16 to October 18, 2025. This visit of Sri Lankan Prime Minister should be evaluated from multiple issues likewise bilateral, academic, political and finally ensuring economic, cultural and trade cooperation with neighbouring India. Prior to Mrs Amarasuria, other female Prime Minister of Sri Lanka were Sirimavo Bandaranaike and now it is Mrs Harini Amarasuria.

It was for quite some time; Sri Lanka were in the midst of deep political and economic turmoil. The way Sri Lanka bounced back in the mainstream of life, has been an exemplary phenomenon with a positive image of the globe which we witness in today’s circumstances. That India was forthright in rendering relevant assistance to this affected Island nation close by to Tamil Nadu coast.

As per the historical data this writer do have, I find that it was for a period of around three years Sri Lanka was in the midst of severe political embroilment. That means from the years 2019-2022, Sri Lanka passed off through tumultuous moments. From the year 2023 Sri Lanka gradually started returning to normalcy.

At the present juncture, the relations between India and Sri Lanka are no doubt on a sound wicket. The relations between the two nations are based on the following features, cultural, economic, political, cultural, sports, academic and corporate. As the new regime is in full operation, it is observable from close quarters that with the advancement of each day of our life, we are confident to note that the progress will be very much on the upswing.

During the F.Y.-2023-2024, trade values between India and Sri Lanka was to the tune of around $ 5.5 billion with India’s export stood at around $ 4.1 billion and Sri Lanka’s export values stood at around $ 1.4 billion.

The current President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake has aimed hard to foster the relations between India and Sri Lanka on a hard footing. Couple of months in an international seminar held in an overseas destination, the chief adviser of the Interim regime of Bangladesh, Dr Mohammad Yunus emphasised the need for rejuvenation of Saarc conglomerates.

As per the historical data I do have, the last Saarc summit was held in Kathmandu, the capital city of Independent Hindu Kingdom of South Asia, Nepal from November 26-27, 2024. Afterwards there was a prolong halt of Saarc Summit. In the just concluded United National General Assembly session Summit, Dr Yunus gave this clarion call to reopen Saarc once again so that peaceful coexistence gets rejuvenated in and around South Asian Sub-Continent once again.

The recent visit of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mrs Harini Amarasuria stands quite significant in context to present geopolitical turmoil in South Asian Sub-Continent. Mrs Amarasuria was in the Indian capital New Delhi from October 16 to October 18, 2025.

Now arriving at the key part, let me analyse in details what are the key areas where bilateral exchanges could take place between India and Bangladesh. The economic base of Sri Lanka has a diversified areas along agriculture, industry and services like along with key sectors apparel, tea and tourism. Apart from the above sectors, other major areas are foreign exchange along with extraction of minerals like gemstones and graphite.

The aftermath of the visit of Sri Lankan Prime Minister to India will further brighten the cordial and bilateral relations between two nations. There are various prospects available in front of us by which relations between the two Saarc nations will further enlighten on the following areas stated as follow:
1) Economic and Technological Cooperation which is divided into following parts, such as,

Trade expansion
Digital economy
Renewable energy
Financial Integration
2) Security and connectivity-It is divided into following parts such as,
Maritime Security
Regional Stability
Logistics
3) Man to man contacts which is also divided into following parts, such as,
Tourism
Education and culture
Direct connectivity
The areas in which bilateral cooperations between India and Sri Lanka is likely to take place in the upcoming days. There are multiple areas by which bilateral cooperations likely to take are stated as follow:

Connectivity and infrastructure
Economy and Trade
Defence and Security
Cultural and People to People ties
Tourism
Expansion of maritime routes
Rejuvenation of Saarc.
Corporate and cultural relation

During the three days visit of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya to India, the political analysts of both nations plus to that of the Sub-Continent opined that with the visit of Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mrs Amarasuriya all pending issues between two sides are likely to get resolved soon. The basic objective which crops in the mind of the citizens of South Asian Sub-Continent peace and tranquil exchanges among the citizens should be treated as order of the moment. Though the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr Amarasuriya being an astute academician of repute, she pledged on the academic areas like education, technology, innovation and development.

From Sri Lanka, academicians, corporate personnel and technologists are on regular visit for various works. There are so many Sri Lankan nationals from diverse corporate, academic and other professional discipline of repute visit India regularly on a customary visit. Through this way relations develop closely between two nations.

Dr Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, might be a political person, but it would be utterly unethical act on the part of this writer. That to ignore completely her writing talents. Hence, I wish to highlight about the books written by the Sri Lankan Prime Minister in order to pay tributes to her talent.

The books written by Dr Harini Amarasuriya are as follow:
The Intimate life of Dissent jointly with other writers like Tobias Kelly, Sidhartan Maunaguru, Galina Oustinova-Stjepanovic and Jonathan Spencer.
Gender and Poverty in selected locations in Sri Lanka.
Political and Social Exclusion of Youth in Sri Lanka.
Home Truths: Childrens’ Rights in Institutions
I could state the names of the books written by the Honourable Sri Lankan Primer from by data bank.

The above examples should have deep impact upon the citizens of Bangladesh. The way the nation landed up into utterly dire straits of affairs, the honourable citizens don’t have any other ways to move about. That is why I opine sincerely, that the way globe is becoming so well spread out, in the same manner Bangladesh should bounce back gallopingly. Along with it the rejuvenation should bounce to back.

The visit of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya will no doubt act as a cakewalk instil bilateral cooperation and friendship among all South Asian nations. As days pass off, the bilateral cooperations between India and Sri Lanka will further blossom to a dizzy height.


Sujayendra Das is a columnist
based in Calcutta, India.