Business
India is no ‘big brother’ to Sri Lanka, H.C. Santosh Jha says in myth-busting speech
by Sanath Nanayakkare
India is referred to as a ‘big brother’ state for the South Asian region as it is the largest and most powerful country in South Asia.
However, the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha delivering a speech in Colombo on April 21, busted this myth adequately.
Speaking at the official launch of the “Ramayana Trail – The Sacred Mission” Project organised by the Supreme Global Holdings Group at Hotel Taj Samudra, Colombo, the Indian High Commissioner said that ‘Ramayana Trail’ reaffirms his oft-repeated assertion that the two countries are civilisational twins sharing the same antiquity.
“From this it follows that we are not after all big or small sisters or brothers but one of the same age and antiquity with neither being small or big vis-a-vis each other,” he said, addressing the audience that comprised a delegation from India led by Swami Govind Dev Giriji.
Speaking further, the Indian HC said,” Your presence here confirms that the deep connection between the people of two countries goes back several centuries into antiquity. A time when people and ideas were moving across seamlessly and without the modern impositions that sometimes constrain and restrict easy travel and connections between our peoples. We were reminded of this connect recently by President Ranil Wickremesinghe who mentioned at the launch of the Universal Payments Interface or the UPI in Sri Lanka, which will allow Indian tourists to make payments in Indian rupees in Sri Lanka, there is evidence of the use of each other’s coins or ancient currencies in both India and Sri Lanka deep into our antiquity.”
“We all know today that the Ramayana trail stretches from India to Sri Lanka. That this is so was not so well known to many in our two countries even a decade or so ago despite references to this in our ancient epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata. I myself discovered this first hand when I came to Sri Lanka in 2007 and worked at the Indian High Commission for three years.
‘’I had the pleasure of visiting these places in Sri Lanka multiple times during that period.”
“So far, in my present tenure too I have visited some of these places and more are part of my plans in the near future. I am, therefore, glad that today the idea of Ramayana trail has caught up the imagination of the people on both sides of the Palk Strait.”
“Promoting tourism is an important objective of both our countries. For Sri Lanka, in particular, it has been an important source of economic activity and promotion of Ramayana trail holds a significant promise.”
“I must also recall that our leaders have pledged to promote the Buddhist circuit and the Ramayana trail in both our countries in the Vision Document that was issued when our leaders – President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Narendra Modi – had their summit meeting in New Delhi in July 2023. I must add that this is the vision of our leaders that guides our actions today in all areas.”
“India already contributes more than 1/5th of the tourist arrivals into Sri Lanka. India is also the largest source of tourist traffic to Sri Lanka. Unlike others, Indian tourists also visit both Buddhist and Hindu places of worship. They are also attracted to historical sites existing across Sri Lanka. In that sense, they are more diversified in their choice of sites and places they visit in Sri Lanka. The economic value of attracting Indian tourists into Sri Lanka, therefore, is greater as the benefits of their travels go to a larger cross section of people dependent on tourism business and to those who are located in all the provinces in Sri Lanka.”
“In other words, Indian tourism has a larger regional spread in Sri Lanka and so its benefits too are similarly more dispersed and distributed. This is unlike other tourists, who are mostly interested in adventure and beach tourism and therefore their business benefits have more limited spread and distribution.”
“Our effort to establish the land bridge, on which we have begun our joint work, promises to further provide fillip to our ongoing efforts to promote tourism between our two countries. No doubt that it will be a game changer. It will, of course, bring many benefits to communities along the alignment of this connectivity but more specifically, it will make Ramayana and Buddhism tourism easier and more alluring to people on both sides. I must also add that the Ramayana trail also confirms the deep people-to-people connect and shared civilisational antiquity of India and Sri Lanka.”
“Our relationship is special and unique in this respect. For us, we have to cooperate as that is the only option. We must stand hand-in-hand with each other in good as well as difficult times. We cannot rest with just coming to assist one another episodically but must remain engaged at all times in all spheres.”
“Our commitment to one another has to be the greatest as there is no other relationship that is more vital, critical and natural as the one we have with each other. In fact, in modern political and economic systems, too, we are similar. We are democratic, open polities and societies and open market economies.”
“Our socio-economic profile as a low middle income country also entails that we can offer each other the benefits of our respective successful experiences, which no other society, economy or polity can do, especially those which are not governed by these democratic norms.”
HNB PLC, the leading private bank in Sri Lanka, has partnered with IDEAL Motors (Pvt) Limited to provide customers with attractive leasing solutions for brand-new vehicles & generators .
The partnership introduces a range of benefits designed to support individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses seeking reliable vehicle and power solutions. Through this collaboration, customers can access structured lease facilities, special interest rates, free life insurance coverage, and attractive discounts through HNB General Insurance.
Commenting on the partnership, HNB, Senior Vice President/ Head of Retail Banking, Kanchana Karunagama, said, “At HNB, we believe that the right financial support can help people and businesses move forward with greater confidence. This partnership with IDEAL Motors shows our commitment to creating meaningful solutions that make vehicle and power investments more accessible, while helping our customers achieve their personal and business aspirations. By combining HNB’s financial expertise with IDEAL Motors’ industry capabilities, we are creating opportunities that support the ambitions of Sri Lankans and contribute towards a stronger, more connected economy.”
Customers purchasing vehicles through IDEAL Motors will also benefit from exclusive offers including free registration, and discounts on Bolero Maxx Pik-Up, Alfa Plus Load Carrier, Mahindra Pik-Up Single Cab, Mahindra Pik Up Double Cab, XUV 3XO vehicles, creating greater value throughout their ownership journey.
IDEAL Motors (Pvt) Limited, Director Legal and Corporate Affairs, Nimesha Welgama, said, “Our collaboration with HNB represents a shared commitment to supporting Sri Lankans in achieving greater financial independence through accessible ownership solutions. By combining IDEAL Motors’ mobility and power solutions with HNB’s financial expertise, we aim to empower individuals and businesses with opportunities that contribute to economic progress and community development. This partnership highlights our vision of creating lasting value by enabling customers to confidently invest in their future.”
With IDEAL Motors recognised for its diverse portfolio of automotive and power solutions, and HNB’s extensive expertise in financial services, the partnership aims to provide a seamless experience from selection to ownership, supported by flexible financing options and customer focused solutions.
The partnership further strengthens HNB’s commitment to supporting economic progress by providing financial solutions that enable customers to invest in personal mobility, commercial growth, and business continuity. Through collaborations with leading industry partners, HNB continues to expand opportunities for Sri Lankans while delivering a banking experience built around accessibility, trust, and value.
Business
Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General and the Ministry of Education committed to protect Sri Lanka’s schoolchildren
Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General Ltd (SLICGL) and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education share a commitment to protect Sri Lanka’s children throughout their school education. The pledge is delivered through the Suraksha Student Insurance Scheme, which protects over 4 million school children.
The Government of Sri Lanka, through the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, provides the Suraksha Student Insurance Scheme free of charge to schoolchildren throughout the country. SLICGL is proud to partner with the Ministry in delivering this national initiative, which helps safeguard students against the financial impact of unforeseen circumstances.
Eligible students include those aged 5-21 years in Grades 1-13 from government schools, government-approved private schools, and Pirivena education, as well as students aged 4-21 years in assisted special schools.
The scheme provides hospitalisation, outpatient and critical illness cover, as well as personal accident cover for permanent and temporary disability, together with a life insurance benefit for children from low-income families on the death of a parent. Cover applies to incidents within and outside school premises.
For a child, an illness or accident can be far more than a temporary setback. It can place added pressure on a family and, in some circumstances, disrupt schooling. Suraksha acts as a safety net, giving children and their families greater peace of mind and helping them stay in school despite life’s uncertainties. The scheme is easily accessible through SLICGL’s islandwide network of 200 branches and customer service centres.
Children’s Day is a celebration of hope, the hope for every child to have the opportunity to learn, grow and build a better future. Celebrating children also means protection, not for a single day but for every day they spend in the classroom.
Commemorating Children’s Day, SLICGL extended support towards the educational needs of children at an underprivileged school. The project highlighted the company’s belief in protecting the future not only by being supportive when the unexpected happens, but also in helping create an environment in which children can learn, grow and fulfil their potential.
As Sri Lanka’s National Insurer, SLICGL’s role goes further than protecting people against risk. It is also about contributing to a stronger, safer and more resilient country as children’s education, wellbeing and aspirations contribute directly to help build the journey ahead.
Vietjet, which already flies between Colombo and Ho Chi Minh City, has officially launched new services connecting Hanoi with Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Prague, Czech Republic, as well as Almaty with Prague, expanding its intercontinental network and marking its entry into the European Union. The new air links offer more affordable travel options while fostering greater tourism, trade and cultural exchange between Asia and Europe.
For Sri Lanka, the new routes widen the network that Vietjet is building out of Colombo. The airline has operated non-stop flights between Colombo and Ho Chi Minh City since August 2026, three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while its new Ho Chi Minh City to Maldives service via Colombo is scheduled to begin on 5 December 2026. With Hanoi now linked to Central Asia and Europe, Sri Lankan travellers have a growing choice of destinations reachable through Vietjet’s extensive network.
The inauguration ceremonies took place at Almaty International Airport and Václav Havel Airport Prague on 10 October, amid a warm welcome from local leaders, residents and visitors. The inaugural flights were greeted with traditional water cannon salutes and performances showcasing local cultural heritage, marking the beginning of new journeys connecting the three regions and welcoming international travellers to Vietnam. Passengers on the inaugural flights also received commemorative gifts from Vietjet and the airports, adding a special touch to their journeys.
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