Sri Lanka’s former President Ranil Wckremesinghe calls for economic corridor with southern Indian states

*Questions current government’s dislike for land link with India

Sri Lanka’s former President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday emphasised the critical need for an economic corridor linking Sri Lanka with Indian states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu , and challenged the current government’s dislike for land connectivity with India

Delivering remarks at the fifth Bay of Bengal Conference organized by the Pathfinder organization, he underscored that genuine economic advancement for the region cannot be achieved without enhancing land connectivity between countries and regions. He pointed to India’s anticipated rise as the world’s second-largest economy, with a projected $30 trillion economy by 2050, as a compelling reason for stronger ties.

The conference, held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, brought together a diverse group of foreign ambassadors, diplomats, civil society representatives, think tanks, government officials, and international organizations.

Discussions surrounding a land bridge between Sri Lanka and India gained traction in 2023, with initial studies indicating mutual interest. However, it has since been announced that the current government is not in favor of the project. This stance prompted Wickremesinghe’s strong emphasis on the necessity of such a link.

Even during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Sri Lanka, despite some comments during bilateral talks, Sri Lanka has reportedly declined to consider a land connectivity project at this time. It’s noteworthy that the concept of a land bridge was first broached during Wickremesinghe’s tenure as Prime Minister in 2002-2004, and was subsequently mentioned in a vision statement when he visited New Delhi as President in 2023.

“Economic corridors are necessary,” Wickremesinghe stated, citing examples like the China-Singapore link, the China-Thailand-Laos rail link, and the India-Myanmar-Thailand economic corridor. “We had taken steps regarding the Sri Lanka-India land link. But the current government has rejected it. But before that, economic, cultural, political and environmental issues should be examined and discussed.”

He concluded by posing crucial questions for the region: “The Bay of Bengal Conference is taking place at a very crucial juncture. US President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on countries. The process of globalization will not change. But the way it is done will definitely change. The European Union seems to be adapting to this change. But what are we going to do? Are we going to come forward as a regional organization? If so, which organization will lead this? Which of the following, BIMSTEC or the Silk Road (BRI) or the ASEAN organization, will lead the way in moving towards this change? Will we act as a region? Questions like this arise before us. How are our Bay of Bengal countries going to move towards the next stage?”