Colombo: Despite recent remarks by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasizing the importance of land connectivity between India and Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan government has opted not to move forward with the proposed project at this time, according to sources cited by the Daily Mirror.
The idea of a land bridge connecting the two nations has been on the table for decades, initially proposed during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure as Prime Minister between 2002 and 2004. The topic resurfaced in 2023 during Wickremesinghe’s visit to New Delhi as President, where it was briefly mentioned in the joint statement.
However, informed sources reveal that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, during his December 2024 visit to India, chose not to prioritize the project. Consequently, it was absent from the official agenda during Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to Sri Lanka. Nevertheless, Modi reportedly brought up the topic informally during bilateral discussions.
In a symbolic gesture, Prime Minister Modi observed the ancient Ram Setu — the legendary bridge linking the two countries — from an Indian Air Force helicopter as he departed Sri Lanka.
It is important to note that , Sri Lanka’s hesitation to pursue the project stems from a combination of factors: national security implications tied to ethnic sensitivities, particularly the Tamil issue; significant environmental concerns; engineering feasibility; and the complex, historically fraught relationship between the two countries.
While the idea remains on the table, it appears that Colombo is in no rush to make it a reality under the current circumstances.
