Pathfinder and Vivekananda International to discuss Indo-Lanka bilateral relations

The Pathfinder Foundation and Vivekananda International Foundation, a leading think tank in India are due to conduct a webinar on Monday, August 17 with virtual participation of several experts from both countries on two themes – Regional and Geopolitical Environment and International Trade & Economic Relations.

The two delegations will be headed by Chairman – Pathfinder Foundation, Bernard Goonetilleke and Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director-Vivekananda International Foundation. Dr. Gupta was the former Deputy National Security Adviser and also functioned as Director General, Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA).

Admiral (Prof.) Jayanath Colombage, Additional Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations and Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Former Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka will provide their perspectives on the two topics of discussion.

Anil Wadhwa, former Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs and Sanjay Chadha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India will speak on behalf of the VIF delegation. In addition, representatives of both governments, think tanks and research organizations will take part in the discussion.

Vivekananda International Foundation is one of several Indian think-tanks the Pathfinder Foundation has formed links with over the years. The two Foundation signed a Mmemorandum of Intent (MoI) in New Delhi on 3 March 2014 following a meeting Milinda Moragoda, Founder of the Pathfinder Foundation had with Ajit Doval, then Director of VIF in New Delhi.

According to the MoI, the two Foundations are expected to work towards enhancing economic relations between the two countries; deepening civilizational links, including exploration of the possibility of promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between the leading Hindu and Buddhist establishments of the two countries; and jointly organizing lectures/seminars/conferences on important issues facing the two countries for the development of closer bilateral relations.

Earlier a delegation representing VIF was expected to visit Sri Lanka in February for an interaction with the Pathfinder Foundation. However, that meeting failed to take place due to the emergence of COVID 19.

Over the years the Pathfinder Foundation has developed a network of relations with several other leading Indian think tanks including the Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), Delhi Policy Group (DPG), National Maritime Foundation (NMF), United Services Institution (USI), Kalinga International Foundation (KIF) etc.