'Don't Want to Be Sandwiched...': New Sri Lankan President on Ties With India, China

Colombo: Sri Lanka's new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has outlined his government’s approach to foreign relations, saying he does not want the country to take sides between India and China. In an interview with Monocle magazine, Dissanayake stated that both nations are valued friends.

He said, “We don’t want to be sandwiched, especially between China and India. Both countries are valued friends and under an National People’s Power (NPP) government, we expect them to become close partners.” Dissanayake also stated that Sri Lanka will not compete in the geopolitical battles of the region, aiming to build balanced relationships with both countries. Adding further on the foreign policy, he said, “We also want to maintain relations with the EU, the Middle East and Africa.”

Dissanayake is the leader of the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party and head of NPP. He won the presidency in the first parliamentary elections after the protests that led to the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022. Dissanayake received 5.74 million votes, defeating his main rival, Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), who got 4.53 million votes.

In his interview conducted on September 3, Dissanayake highlighted his government's main goal: rescuing Sri Lanka from an ongoing economic crisis. He said, “Both the main opposition and the ruling party follow the same neoliberal economic model. Today, sadly, we are a bankrupt nation. We have an external debt of €34 billion, poverty has increased, and the price of essential goods has skyrocketed. Our priority is to save the country from this economic crisis.”

Dissanayake believes that a neutral foreign policy is essential to protect Sri Lanka's sovereignty amid growing regional tensions. He wants to focus on forming partnerships that benefit all involved, without getting caught in the struggles between powerful nations.

After his election, Dissanayake received warm wishes from neighboring countries like India, Pakistan , the Maldives, and China, which is Sri Lanka's largest creditor. A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said, “China hopes that Sri Lanka will maintain its national stability and development, and is willing to play a constructive role in the smooth economic and social development.”

Dissanayake was announced as the new president late on Sunday, succeeding Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had been appointed by Parliament to complete the term of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.