Modi in Sri Lanka: Prime Minister has not gone there just for 'visiting temples' and China has already got the message

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reached Sri Lanka to start his two-day state visit to island country.

PM Modi's visit to the neighbouring country is described to be a 'religious' one but the media reports do suggest that Indian Prime Minister has not gone there for 'visiting temples' only and China has got the message from Srilanka on a very strategic demand in the Indian subcontinent region.

The island nation has rejected China's request to dock one of its submarines in Colombo this month, Reuters quoted government officials as saying.

In 2014, Sri Lanka had allowed Chinese submarines to harbor in its waters, a move that triggered strong opposition from India.

India has always considered Sri Lanka as a part of its influence area and was worried by increasing Chinese influence.

Apart from giving a strong message to China who was cosying up with Lanka lately, Modi is also supposed to hold meetings with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. During his meetings, he will push for the implementation of the MoUs signed by the two sides during his Lankan counterpart’s India visit.

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1. A 50 MW solar power plant in Sampur, near Trincomlaee for which Sri Lanka is to issue a letter of intent by “mid-May 2017”.

2. Road and railway projects in Trincomalee, Mannar and Jaffna.

 3. An LNG terminal/floating Storage Regasification Unit in Colombo, and other associated projects such as CNG outlets, for all of which Sri Lanka will issue a letter of intent by “mid-May 2017”;

4. A 500 MW LNG fired power plant, for which the Sri Lankan government will issue a letter of intent to India by “end May 2017”.

5. Joint development of the Upper Tank Farm containing 84 tanks in an area of 800 acres by Lanka IOC and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation for which the two will set up a joint venture by the “end July 2017” and make business development plans by September 2017.

6. A port, petroleum refinery and other industries in Trincomalee for which both governments will set up a joint working group by “end June 2017”.

The visit which was undermined by describing as a religious visit is much more than that and serving another purpose PM Modi will also meet Indian-origin Tamils living in the island nation.