The India-Sri Lanka Strategic Dialogue, hosted by the Pathfinder Foundation in association with the Ananta Aspen Centre of India, took place in Colombo on 25 March 2025. Coming a week before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka on April 5, the Dialogue serves as a valuable platform to explore key bilateral and regional matters that are expected to influence the India-Lanka discourse.

Bernard Goonetilleke, Chairman of Pathfinder Foundation, delivered the opening remarks, followed by Dr. Naushad Forbes, Chairman of Ananta Aspen Centre. Indian High Commissioner Santhosh Jha delivered special remarks.

Over four sessions, subject experts examined in-depth issues such as balancing great power influence in South Asia, the India-Lanka fishing dispute, securing the shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean, defence cooperation within the Indian Ocean framework, India’s role in infrastructure development in Sri Lanka, and the opportunities for both countries to shape best practices and technology in digital governance.  The Dialogue emphasised the importance of strengthening India-Lanka economic ties, particularly in the context of Sri Lanka’s post-IMF recovery program.

 Session 1, titled “India and Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations,” was moderated by Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, the former High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka. Session 2, titled “Strategic Partnerships in the Indian Ocean – India-Sri Lanka Relations for Regional Stability” was chaired by Ahmed A. Jawad, Director of the Pathfinder Foundation. Ms. Indrani Bagchi, Chief Executive Officer of Ananta Aspen Centre, moderated Session 3 on “Navigating Investment Opportunities between India and Sri Lanka, “while Mahesh Perera, Chief Executive Officer of the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), chaired Session 4, which focused on “Digital Public Infrastructure.”

 Pathfinder Foundation’s Director, Ahmed A. Jawad, and Indrani Bagchi, Chief Executive Officer of Ananta Aspen Centre, delivered closing remarks.

This latest interaction between Pathfinder and Anantha is the third in a series of discussions. The two sides previously held dialogues on ‘Bridging Borders: Enhancing Connectivity between India and Sri Lanka’ and’ Navigating the Maritime Maze: India and Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean Region.’

The representatives of the two institutions held a wrap-up session at a breakfast hosted by Pathfinder Founder Milinda Moragoda, during which they discussed the future programs they plan to undertake.

Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) and the National Transport Commission (NTC) are on a collision course over the proposed bus fare hike.The LPBOA has firmly said that bus fares will rise significantly in July, despite potential reductions in fuel prices around the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

LPBOA Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne said that the private bus industry was currently operating at a loss of Rs. 3 per km. He argued that fare increases were unavoidable given the rising operational costs, including the reintroduction of VAT on buses and skyrocketing vehicle prices. He said that the annual bus fare revision, which takes place in April, June, and July, would see an increase in fares, regardless of the ongoing fluctuation in fuel prices.

“We met the Minister of Transport two weeks ago and made it clear that commuters should prepare for a fare hike in the coming months,” Wijeratne said. “This decision has been reached after an annual review, and the increase will come into effect from July.”

“Transport industry grapples with rising costs, and private bus operators continue to struggle to break even,” he said, adding that the industry’s broader financial challenges could not be ignored though there were some who hoped that falling fuel prices might alleviate some pressure.

In response to the LPBOA’s announcement, Sherini Athukorala, Director of Operations at the NTC, explained that any decision on bus fare increases ultimately lay with the Commission, not the bus unions.

“The process of determining bus fares is under the purview of the NTC. Regardless of what individual unions may propose, the final decision on fare hikes rests with the Commission,” she said.

By Dharmasena Welipitiya and Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon

Wildlife officers in Kapitiya recently released a number of newly hatched Olive Ridley sea turtles into the sea.The hatchlings were collected from local areas such as Illantadi, Alankudawa, Kudaawa, and Kandakuliya, where officers had gathered the eggs of the endangered species.

The eggs were carefully incubated at a hatchery for a period of 45 to 55 days, and once the hatchlings emerged, they were safely released into the Gulf of Mannar.

 According to wildlife officers, the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) releases approximately 375 sea turtle hatchlings annually between November and April as part of its ongoing conservation efforts.

This release not only marked a successful milestone for the department but also saw the participation of local and foreign tourists, who contributed to the safe release of the hatchlings. The Kalpitiya site security office and the Ilantadi Beat office officials also helped the initiative.

The Olive Ridley sea turtle is a rare species known for its nesting activities between November and January. Wildlife officers have emphasized the importance of protecting this species and highlighted the unique biodiversity of the Kalpitiya Peninsula, which is rich in marine life, including other megafauna such as dolphins, whales, and dugongs.

Kalpitiya, situated between the Gulf of Mannar and Puttlam Lagoon, is a vital biodiversity hotspot, with its coastlines serving as key nesting grounds for sea turtles. The Department of Wildlife Conservation continues to work tirelessly to protect the eggs of these endangered turtles while also engaging with local communities to prevent illegal activities such as the consumption of turtle meat and eggs.

Text and Pic By Nalin Hendurugoda