India, Sri Lanka launch Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, deepen ties

Jaishankar was on his first foreign visit after beginning his second term as the foreign minister, with the choice of Sri Lanka as the destination signalling New Delhi’s continued focus on its “Neighbourhood First” policy.

The inauguration of the MRCC came six months after Sri Lanka declared a year-long moratorium on foreign research ships entering its waters amid India’s concerns over Chinese surveillance vessels docking in its neighbourhood.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Jaishankar participated in a ceremony to hand over more than 150 houses built under two India-backed housing projects that are among the flagship initiatives of New Delhi’s development cooperation. Over the past two years, Sri Lanka has benefited from a range of initiatives aimed at bolstering energy, financial and physical connectivity.