During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Sri Lanka, a proposal for a land bridge project between India and Sri Lanka was once again put forward. However, the Sri Lankan government has not yet made any statement regarding the matter.
This is not the first time such a project has been discussed, with talks initially taking place in 2002 regarding a land bridge between Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, India, and Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka, potentially based on the Ram Sethu (Adam’s Bridge). The idea of establishing a railway link between the two countries also emerged at that time. Discussions regarding the land bridge continued under previous Sri Lankan governments, but no concrete action has been taken.
Despite the renewed proposal during Prime Minister Modi’s visit, Sri Lanka has remained silent and has not offered any immediate response. Meanwhile, political commentator Dayan Jayathilaka has raised concerns about a reported defense agreement between Sri Lanka and India, suggesting that Indian media has portrayed the agreement as more substantial than Sri Lanka claims. He emphasizes the need for Sri Lanka to remain an independent state and not become aligned with any particular power.
