HC Colonne charts way forward for Lanka-India ties

High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Mahishini Colonne on 18 August 2026, addressed the 66th Course of the National Defence College (NDC) of India on “India – Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations: Determinants, Status, Opportunities, Challenges and the Way Forward.” She had also addressed the 65th Course in August 2025.

The address was delivered to 122 senior officers of the 66th Course, drawn from the Indian Armed Forces, Indian Civil Services, Indian Police Service and other organs of the Government of India, together with 41 officers from foreign countries including Sri Lanka.

Drawing on the NDC motto, “Wisdom is Strength,” the High Commissioner’s speech examined the India – Sri Lanka relationship through history, geography, sovereignty, security, economics, connectivity and people-to-people relations. She traced the civilisational depth of the relationship while also reflecting on more difficult periods in its modern history.

She highlighted the significant momentum in bilateral engagement, including President Anura Kumara Disanayaka’s State Visit to India in December 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025, the first-ever bilateral visit to Sri Lanka by an Indian Vice President in April 2026, and India’s swift humanitarian response following Cyclone Ditwah in November 2025 through Operation Sagar Bandhu.

Turning to the strategic dimension, she emphasised the interdependence between the two countries, including Sri Lanka’s consistent assurance that its territory would not be used in a manner threatening India’s security interests. At the same time, she stressed the importance of safeguarding Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and strategic autonomy. India’s exceptional support to Sri Lanka during the 2022 economic crisis including the provision of critical emergency assistance and its role as the first bilateral creditor to provide financing assurances for Sri Lanka’s IMF programme, was also described as contributing to wider regional stability.

Addressing the inherent asymmetry between the two countries, she noted that asymmetry need not mean domination or vulnerability, describing the relationship as “a partnership between unequal states, but not between unequal interests.” Both countries, she noted, share fundamental interests in peace, stability, prosperity and security in the Indian Ocean.

The remarks also covered the breadth of the bilateral relationship including trade and investment, connectivity, energy cooperation, defence and security ties, maritime cooperation, digital connectivity and the Colombo Security Conclave. The importance of public goodwill as a strategic asset was also highlighted, with reference to a Pew Research Centre survey published on 13 August 2026 which found that 79 percent of Sri Lankans hold a favourable view of India, the highest such rating among the 36 countries surveyed.

Looking ahead, six priorities were identified for deepening the partnership: building mutual trust; strengthening the partnership and shared prosperity; accelerating connectivity in key sectors; building an integrated maritime security partnership; investing in people; and exploring what India and Sri Lanka can do together for the wider Indian Ocean region.

Following the address and an interactive question-and-answer session with course participants, the High Commissioner also addressed a delegation of officers who will visit Sri Lanka from 31 August to 2 September 2026 as part of the NDC’s Study Tour.

Established in 1960, the National Defence College is India’s apex institution for the study of national security and strategy. It provides senior officers of the Armed Forces and Civil Services of India, together with officers from Friendly Foreign Countries, with exposure to national and international security-related fields through its 47-week programme. Sri Lanka has sent senior officers and officials to the NDC for over five decades.