Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka in the first week of April following an invitation extended by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during his recent visit to India.
The timing of Modi’s visit is significant, as it coincides with the withdrawal of the Adani Group from the Mannar power plant project. Adani, a close associate of Modi, has not officially responded to the notice issued by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Energy on Thursday regarding the project’s status. The Indian Prime Minister’s visit was announced on Wednesday, just a day before the Ministry of Energy sought clarification from Adani.
Less than 24 hours after the announcement of Modi’s visit, the Indian High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner in Sri Lanka met with former President Ranil Wickremesinghe at his political office in Malpara. The three reportedly engaged in a secretive two-hour discussion. Notably, Sagala Ratnayake, a key ally of Wickremesinghe, who usually attends such meetings, was absent this time. The discussions reportedly centered around agreements signed between the Wickremesinghe administration and India in 2023, including the Trincomalee oil pipeline project.
Last week, Ranil Wickremesinghe traveled to New Delhi and met Prime Minister Modi twice. During these meetings, Modi and Indian officials expressed serious concerns about Sri Lanka’s handling of the Adani project. Upon returning to Sri Lanka, Wickremesinghe was questioned by former MPs about his discussions with Modi.
“India believes the Sri Lankan government has acted as if it welcomed Indian investments only to later turn its back,” Wickremesinghe reportedly said. “It is not a favorable response. The Indian Prime Minister is coming to Sri Lanka to ensure that the agreements are upheld. However, the Sri Lankan government is remaining largely silent about Modi’s visit,” he added.
