India does not seek to control every political move of neighbours, and does not expect that the political dynamics within neighbouring countries will adhere to what India may think is desirable, but Delhi is confident that fundamental realities of interdependence will ensure that relationships with neighbours remains constructive and positive, external affairs minister S Jaishankar has said.

At a time when a regime change in Bangladesh through street protests and a government change in Sri Lanka through electoral route has generated questions about Dhaka and Colombo’s ties with Delhi, Jaishankar also made it clear that India remains focused on building economic regionalism in South Asia.

During a conversation at Asia Society in New York, the minister was asked about India’s “non-reciprocal” approach to neighbours hasn’t yielded benefits with the rise of potentially governments, and about India’s role regarding the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh.

Jaishankar said that India stepped forward in the case of Sri Lanka at a time when others didn’t -- in a timely manner and on scale -- and that helped stabilised the island state’s economy. “When we did it, we did not have a political conditionality that accompanied it. We were doing it as a good neighbour that did not want to see an economic meltdown at the doorstep. What happens politically in Sri Lanka is for their politics to work out. At the end of the day, each one of our neighbours will have their own dynamics. It is not our intention to suggest that their dynamics must necessarily adhere to what we might consider being better for us.” He added that this was a “real world”, everyone made their choices and countries then found a way to adjust and work together.

Over the weekend, elections in Sri Lanka saw the victory of Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the Janata Vimukhti Peramuna (JVP), an old Marxist party, as a part of wider coalition. While India has engaged with Dissanayake — both before and after the election — his past critical positions on elements of Indian policy and economic interests, at a time of China’s continued engagement, have given rise to apprehensions about Colombo’s approach to India under a new dispensation.

In the case of Bangladesh, which he acknowledged as being a different situation, the ministers traced back the progress of the past decade.

“What we have done is to do projects that have been good for both of us. Economic activity has overall picked up. Logistics of that region has improved. I would urge you not to be deterministic about it. It is not as if India is seeking to control every political move of every neighbour. That’s not how it works. It doesn’t work for us and it doesn’t work for anyone else.”

In Bangladesh, student protests and a brutal state response morphed into a mass upsurge against the Sheikh Hasina-led government that was widely seen as authoritarian and corrupt and having presided over unfair elections. Hasina had to flee to India, which had traditionally supported her party, the Awami League. This, in turn, has made India an object of suspicion in Bangladesh’s new political configuration. For its part, Delhi has been deeply concerned about the manner of regime change in the country, the rise of Islamist forces as a part of the new political dispensation, the possibility of state sipport to radicalisation, the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, the political instability in the country, and the potential security consequences for India especially in the Northeast. Jaishankar met Bangladesh’s new foreign advisor in the interim government, Touhid Hossain, on Monday in New York.

Jaishankar said that in foreign policy, all that a country could do was read, anticipate and respond to those dynamics. He then projected a more confident outlook for the future. “The realities of interdependence, mutual benefit and our ability to get along will serve both our interests will reassert themselves. That has been the history,” he said. “Look back at the last few years. Something happens and people suggest it is an irretrievable situation. Then you see the correctives manifest itself. I am quite confident that in both these cases, our relationship will remain positive and constructive.”

While congratulating President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on his victory, US President Joe Biden said he looks forward to working with President Dissanayake to advance peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Supreme Court today initiated contempt of court proceedings against former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Nilantha Jayawardena for failing to pay the full compensation owed to the victims of the Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

Senior Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Priyantha Weerasooriya has been appointed as the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) with immediate effect.

All police security personnel assigned to former Parliamentarians and Ministers have been recalled, police said. However, Senior DIG (Administration) Lalith Pathinayake told the Daily Mirror that police security personnel provided for the former Speaker, former Deputy Speaker and the Opposition Leader will remain in place.

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Muditha Peiris has resigned as Chairman of Litro Gas Company, effective from tomorrow (27). Peiris, who took up the position on 13 June, 2022, had previously served as Managing Director of both Litro Gas Lanka Ltd and Litro Gas Terminal Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.

Officials of the Ministry of Power and Energy have informed President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the country currently has sufficient fuel reserves to meet consumption needs.

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The Supreme Court today ordered that Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, Harsha Ilukpitiya be kept in prison custody within the Supreme Court premises till court proceedings resume in the evening.

The People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) today urged the public to maintain peace both before and after the general elections, just as they did during the Presidential election.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has signed an Extraordinary Gazette notification to dissolve the Parliament of Sri Lanka, effective from tonight (24). According to reports, the Gazette notification has been sent to the Government Printer for immediate publication.

New governors were sworn in by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today, the President's Media Division (PMD) said.

The Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Ratnayake, announced that applications for postal voting in the upcoming General Election will be accepted starting from today (25).

The Commissioner General of Examinations, Amith Jayasundara, announced that the results for the 2023 GCE Ordinary Level Examination will be released before the end of this month.

National People's Power (NPP) MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, making her the 16th person to hold the position.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said today that they are ready for the next general election. The decision was announced following a lengthy discussion at Nelum Mawatha on how to face the next general election.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will not contest future general elections but will focus on guiding the party, the UNP said today. UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene and Chairman Vajira Abeywardena confirmed the decision made by Mr. Wickremesinghe a short while ago.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party seniors have decided not to team up with the UNP for the general elections and to field its leader Sajith Premadasa as its Prime Ministerial candidate at the general elections, a party spokesman said.

“There is a possibility Parliament will be dissolved tonight” September 24, 2024 at 4:29 PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, the new Prime Minister, told reporters that there is a possibility Parliament may be dissolved tonight. She said that she will assume duties as Prime Minister shortly.