India-Sri Lanka Relations: The Way Forward

A delegation from the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) led by Ambassador Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General paid a visit to General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) and met Vice Chancellor – Major General MP Peiris on Thursday, March 05, 2020.

The delegation later participated in a panel discussion organised by the Department of Strategic Studies titled “India-Sri Lanka Relations: The Way Forward”. The panel comprised of practitioners and academics from MP-IDSA – Ambassador Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General; Dr Ashok Behuria, Senior Fellow; Commodore Roby Thomas, Senior Fellow; Dr Smruti Pattanaik, Research Fellow; Dr Gulbin Sultana, Research Analyst – and was chaired by Emeritus Professor Amal Jayawardane, Senior Professor in International Relations. The audience was educated on the various issues compounding the bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka. The panel discussion also highlighted the regional and global implications of India’s position in the region.

The panel discussion was followed by a lively discussion with many timely questions being raised. The audience comprised of undergraduates, as well as academic and military staff. The Head of Department – Department of Strategic Studies and Deputy Dean – Faculty of Defence & Strategic Studies too participated in the discussion.