By Ceylon Signal 
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, on his first stand‑alone visit to Colombo since assuming office, urged Sri Lanka’s government to hold long‑delayed provincial council elections “at the earliest” and fully implement constitutional provisions relating to the Tamil minority. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the message was delivered during meetings with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Foreign Secretary Aruni Ranaraja, and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.
The visit, framed under India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy and “Vision MAHASAGAR,” included a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation and a series of engagements with Tamil political parties — though notably, the newly formed Tamil‑speaking alliance was split into two separate meetings, dividing Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Origin Tamils.
New Financing, Delayed Delivery
India and Sri Lanka finalized two new rupee‑denominated Lines of Credit:
$250 million for railway development
$100 million for livestock and priority sectors
The agreements were exchanged in President Dissanayake’s presence. India also confirmed that reconstruction of houses and bridges damaged by Cyclone Ditwah will begin shortly under a $100 million grant, part of a larger $450 million post‑disaster package.
Other updates included:
Completion of Northern Railway corridor rehabilitation under a $5 million grant
Progress on medical equipment for the relocated Deniyaya Hospital
Ongoing work on school equipment, medical kiosks, and a national disaster warning system
Acceleration of long‑term projects such as the Sampur solar plant, Trincomalee energy hub, electricity grid interconnection, and Sri Lanka’s Unique Digital Identity project
Talks will begin on rehabilitating Kankesanthurai Harbour under a proposed $61.5 million grant, and both sides agreed to finalize an MoU expanding the Suwa Seriya ambulance service, first pledged during Prime Minister Modi’s 2025 Colombo visit.
Misri also pressed Colombo to expedite construction of the remaining houses under India’s 2017 commitment to build 10,000 homes for Indian Origin Tamil plantation workers.
Tamil Parties Push India to Ensure Elections, Land Return
In a 45‑minute meeting with three Tamil parties — ITAK, DTNA, and TNPF — representatives said the government had failed to honour its promise to hold provincial council elections within a year of taking office. They urged India to push Colombo to set a date and ensure the vote is not postponed again.
Key concerns raised:
Provincial councils remain structurally weak due to centralised financial control
Divisions among Tamil parties helped the ruling NPP gain ground in the North
Military‑occupied land in the North and East remains privately owned, with owners displaced by war
Ongoing land acquisitions and construction of Buddhist temples on disputed sites
Misri said India cannot advocate for arrangements benefiting only one ethnic group, stressing equality for all citizens — a principle Tamil representatives said remains unfulfilled in practice.
He also noted that delays in Indian‑funded projects were not caused by India, citing Sri Lankan officials who blamed administrative bottlenecks such as appointing coordinating officers.
Indian Origin Tamils Seek New Power‑Sharing Model
At India House, Misri met Tamil Progressive Alliance leader Mano Ganesan and MPs V. Radhakrishnan and Jeevan Thondaman.
They discussed:
Provincial council elections
Constitutional reform
Implementation of the 13th Amendment
Ganesan warned that some government‑aligned figures were undermining Tamil‑inclusive negotiations even as President Dissanayake engaged constructively. He said the TPA supports resuming constitutional talks from the 2015–2019 interim report, which strengthens provincial councils rather than abolishing them.
Because Indian Origin Tamils are dispersed across many districts, the TPA plans to propose a Non‑Territorial Community Council as an alternative power‑sharing mechanism. The party also backs a reformed, nationally elected executive presidency, arguing it incentivizes responsiveness to minority concerns.
Fishermen Dispute and Security Assurances
Misri urged Sri Lanka to adopt a humanitarian approach in releasing detained Indian fishermen and vessels while both sides work toward a permanent solution.
India welcomed President Dissanayake’s assurance — given during his December 2024 visit to New Delhi — that Sri Lankan territory would not be used in ways harmful to India’s security, calling it a foundation for deeper cooperation.
Reaffirming Commitments
The visit concluded with both governments reaffirming pledges made during President Dissanayake’s 2024 trip to New Delhi and Prime Minister Modi’s 2025 visit to Colombo.