Sansad Tv
Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan wrapped up a productive two-day visit to Sri Lanka – giving a fresh push to ties between the two neighbours. In fact, this was a landmark visit – the first by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka – underlining just how important this relationship is for India. From a warm traditional welcome in Colombo to high-level meetings with Sri Lanka’s top leadership, the visit blended symbolism with substance. The message was clear: to further deepen a relationship rooted in shared history, cultural affinities, and close civilisational linkages. Development cooperation remained a key focus. The Vice President handed over the last cluster of 4,000 houses under Phase-III of the Indian Housing Project, and also visited project sites in Nuwara Eliya, interacting with beneficiaries on the ground. This is part of a larger effort – with India having already supported the construction of 50,000 houses, and 10,000 more in the pipeline. These initiatives, along with assistance extended after Cyclone Ditwah, are part of India’s $450 million support package – reinforcing New Delhi’s continued commitment to its Neighbourhood First policy. At the same time, there was a strong emphasis on people-to-people connect – from engaging with Tamil political leaders to outreach to the Indian diaspora. In a significant announcement, the Vice President extended OCI card eligibility to the 5th and 6th generation of Indian Origin Tamils in Sri Lanka – a move that further strengthens long-standing cultural and emotional ties. So, what does this visit really signal? How significant is India’s development partnership in shaping ties with Sri Lanka? And how does this outreach – especially to the Tamil community and the diaspora – fit into India’s broader neighbourhood policy?
Guests:
1- Prabhu Dayal, Former Ambassador
2- Pathikrit Payne, Senior Research Fellow, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation
Anchor: Teena Jha
Producer: Sagheer Ahmad
Guest Coordinator: Deepti Vashisht, Vinod Kumar Singh, Paras Kandpal
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