Politician and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa of the main opposition party Samagi Jana Belawagaya (SJB) in Sri Lanka has talked about India’s leadership. In an interview, Premadasa has said that India’s leadership is essential to ensure security and stability in the Indian Ocean region and to maintain long-term peace in the entire South Asia. In an interview in Colombo, Premadasa said that the national interests of India and the national interests of Sri Lanka are clearly congruent, which forms the foundation of mutual respect, understanding and constructive cooperation between the two neighboring countries. Describing India as a global superpower, Premadasa said that this truth should be recognized at the regional and international level. He reiterated his support for India’s permanent membership of the UN Security Council, saying it would reflect the existing global balance of power.
Premadasa praised the recent policies of the Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said that India has made efforts to support the Sri Lankan people in times of economic hardship and crisis. He said that strong India-Sri Lanka relations have brought tangible benefits by helping to meet the basic economic, social, health and development needs of the Sri Lankan people. During the interview, Premadasa said, “India’s leadership in the region is very important. It is very important to promote both regional security and global security.” He further said that bilateral relations between the two countries are flourishing and continue to add value to Sri Lanka. Speaking on the developments in South Asia, Premadasa stressed the importance of political stability in Bangladesh, especially in the context of the upcoming elections. He said stability in Bangladesh will strengthen democracy and ensure that the voices, aspirations and sovereign rights of the Bangladeshi people are reflected through democratic processes.
He expressed hope that Bangladesh’s elections will be free and fair, resulting in a true reflection of the will of the people. When asked about his views on Bangladesh’s interim government’s chief advisor Muhammad Yunus’ call to reactivate SAARC, Premadasa said multilateral frameworks such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) remain relevant to promote peace, dialogue and shared prosperity. He said SAARC has historically provided an important platform for discussion, cooperation and peaceful resolution of conflicts. Emphasizing on inclusive growth, Premadasa said that prosperity must be shared and rooted in social democratic values such as equality, justice and fairness. He said that a functional SAARC will play an important role in pursuing regional peace, prosperity and long-term stability.
