Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Sri Lanka’s National People’s Power (NPP) has been elected as the country’s new president. Chinese experts say his victory will further strengthen relations between China and Sri Lanka, as Dissanayake is expected to adopt a more pragmatic and friendly approach to strengthen ties with China during his tenure.[i]Besides, as Sri Lanka is an important connection point in China’s port trade with South Asian countries under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), it may enable new investments with strengthening bilateral relations.
Qian Feng, Director of the Research Department at Tsinghua University’s National Strategy Institute, told the Global Times that these bilateral relations are expected to be further enhanced under Sri Lanka’s new administration as Dissanayake’s party shares many ideological similarities with China and values the country’s ties with China. While the new administration is expected to strike a balanced stance between its relations with China and India, it is likely that the new president will adopt a more pragmatic and friendly stance, reducing dependence on India and seeking closer alignment with China’s development strategies.[ii]
By strengthening its strategic presence in South Asia, China aims to avoid key points at sea and secure onshore energy routes. In this regard, it is developing diplomatic and defense relations with countries in the region such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives.[iii]Sri Lanka and China’s diplomatic relations date back centuries. Relations have developed along the Maritime Silk Road and have been supported by extensive cooperation in areas such as trade exchanges, culture and knowledge.
Sri Lanka and China’s relations have continuously developed, especially with the Belt and Road Initiative. Cooperation projects such as the Colombo Port City, Hambantota Port and Norochcholai Power Plant have helped create jobs, generate revenue and bring modern technologies to the country. There is no Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in force between the two countries yet. However, bilateral discussions on an FTA have been held to advance the burgeoning economic relations in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. Thus, it can be assumed that the deepening economic ties between the two countries will also be reflected in the political sphere in the future.
China’s investments have provided Sri Lanka with opportunities in many areas. For instance, increasing biodiversity thanks to the Colombo Port City or building a “smart city” with more modern projects can increase sustainable and quality of life, while eliminating labor shortages in certain areas and supporting the country’s development.
Moreover, these projects are perfectly aligned with Sri Lanka’s vision of becoming a maritime hub in the Indian Ocean. Through the development of ports and related infrastructure, Sri Lanka aims to become a vibrant hub for international trade and logistics, capitalizing on its strategic location and historic trade links. As the Belt and Road Initiative continues to evolve, cooperation between China and Sri Lanka is poised to redefine Sri Lanka’s role in the global economic landscape, enhancing its connectivity and unlocking its full potential as a maritime hub.[iv]
Sri Lanka was among the first non-communist countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China and bilateral relations were established in the 1950s. While China has engaged with almost all Sri Lankan governments, post-independence Sri Lankan history shows that there is a variation in the level of Chinese engagement in the country depending on whether Sri Lanka is governed by the right wing (United National Party-UNP) or the left of center (exemplified by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and its offshoots) or coalitions led by these parties. When a center-left government was in power, China provided more aid, loans and political support than when a UNP government was in power.[v]
Sri Lankan election results have an impact beyond national borders. This is because the country plays an important role in power dynamics in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific. Located in the center of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is at the key point of trade routes linking Europe and the Far East. Sri Lanka’s critical role on the sea routes has led China to increase its investments in the region through the Belt and Road Initiative. This has strengthened China’s strategic presence in the region. On the other hand, Sri Lanka’s relations with China have mostly developed around traditional friendship and have progressed in accordance with development projects.
To conclude, the election of a socialist politician gave birth to the rhetoric of a “new beginning”. The new Sri Lankan President Dissanayake, who is known for his “pro-China” actions in the past, is expected to accelerate diplomatic relations with China, while his policies with neighboring India are expected to be positive. It can be said that the current priority of the leader, who is expected to pursue a neutral foreign policy, is the search for solutions to some problems in domestic politics.
Sri Lanka’s support for the Belt and Road projects has led to a higher level of bilateral relations and contributed to the formation of a long-term, stable strategic partnership between China and Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, China has played a constructive role in the country’s development through its economic policies based on the principle of non-interference in internal affairs. Thus, bilateral relations, which started with a long-standing traditional friendship, have developed further through economic projects. Although China and Sri Lanka have different political and economic structures, they have established political trust based on the principle of mutual benefit in harmony with each other over the years. In this context, China-Sri Lanka relations are an example of ties between countries with different geopolitical characteristics. China has helped the development of countries in its neighborhood and thus improved its bilateral relations. Developing countries like Sri Lanka have been able to benefit from the opportunities provided by China. This has created a win-win situation for the people of both countries.
[i] “Sri Lanka elects new president, ‘expected to boost ties with Beijing’” Global Times, https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202409/1320168.shtml, (Date of Access: 23.09.2024).
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] “China’s Influence in South Asia” Foreign Affairs Committee, https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/china-snapshot-project-south-asia/, (Date of Access: 23.09.2024).
[iv] “Belt and Road Initiative fueling Sri Lanka’s vision to become maritime hub in Indian Ocean” Belt and Road Portal, https://eng.yidaiyilu.gov.cn/p/323084.html, (Date of Access: 23.09.2024).
[v] “Which Candidate Is China Likely to Back in Sri Lanka’s 2024 Presidential Election?” The Diplomat, https://thediplomat.com/2024/09/which-candidate-is-china-likely-to-back-in-sri-lankas-2024-presidential-election/, (Date of Access: 23.09.2024).
