In an exclusive interview to TOI’s Sachin Parashar, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake speaks about the significance of the AI Impact Summit, backs India’s legitimate security interests in the Indian Ocean and says Sri Lanka would like to resume ETCA talks in a progressive and transparent manner. You are visiting India at PM Narendra Modi’s invitation for the AI summit. You have spoken in the past about the gap between States in AI and how some nations are unable to use AI for development because of inadequate infrastructure. In that context, what are your expectations from this summit and the outcome document? We congratulate India for bringing this important AI Impact Summit to the Global South. This Summit is significant not only for technology, but for partnership. Sri Lanka sees this as an opportunity for India and Sri Lanka, and the wider Global South to shape AI governance together in partnership. Artificial Intelligence will define competitiveness, public service delivery and economic transformation. For developing countries like mine, access to infrastructure, research networks and human capital development is critical. This is where cooperation matters.For Sri Lanka, this Summit must be about democratizing access to AI infrastructure and turning global principles into practical partnerships for the Global South. Sri Lanka is already putting in place the foundations for AI-driven development – including a national digital public infrastructure framework, an AI governance architecture, sectoral AI committees, and an AI Champions programme to build institutional capability. We are also advancing initiatives to expand sovereign data centre and AI compute capacity, including engagement with hyperscale cloud providers and development of infrastructure to support AI-ready workloads. But for countries like ours, access to global compute ecosystems, research networks, and advanced talent development remains critical. Initiatives such as the Global AI Impact Commons and the Trusted AI Commons are important because they can help democratize AI resources and ensure that innovation is not limited to a few advanced economies The Summit’s real impact will lie in turning principles into practical partnerships, and Sri Lanka stands ready to work with India in doing so. We’re already building on such practical partnerships, for example 25 Sri Lankan tech startups are being hosted by IIT Madras for a six-week residency.What do you make of India’s focus on inclusive and human-centric AI and the fact that the AI summit is being hosted for the first time in the Global South? What is Sri Lanka’s position on AI regulation?India’s human-centric approach to AI aligns closely with Sri Lanka’s own reform and development priorities. Sri Lanka supports a balanced and risk-based regulatory framework that protects citizens while encouraging innovation. Sri Lanka has already enacted robust data protection legislation, strengthened its cybersecurity framework, and is establishing a structured AI governance architecture to guide responsible adoption. Rather than fragmented standards, regional collaboration between Sri Lanka and India can promote interoperability, ethical safeguards and shared learning. AI governance should enable growth, strengthen institutions and expand opportunities. That is best achieved through partnership. We see India as a natural collaborator in building trusted and inclusive AI ecosystems.Looking back, given the historical scepticism that your party had about India and the Indian government’s recent support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery, as also assistance after Cyclone Ditwah, how has your vision for India-Sri Lanka ties evolved over the past 18 months? The first country that I visited after being elected as President was India; and the first foreign leader that I received in Sri Lanka as President was PM Narendra Modi. In recognition of India’s support to Sri Lanka under PM Modi’s leadership including during the economic crisis, we accorded him the highest honour that Sri Lanka bestows upon foreign leaders – the Sri Lanka Mithra Vibhushana. The link between our countries and our peoples is deep, historic, and civilisational. When I visited India as President in December 2024, we adopted the India – Sri Lanka Joint Statement titled ‘Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future’. Relations between our two countries now cover every area of contemporary relevance for our people. India’s support during Sri Lanka’s economic stabilisation was significant. So was India’s support in the context of Cyclone Ditwah. Our relationship today is about structural integration and long-term growth. India is Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner. India is a significant investor, and is also the largest source of tourism. Just a few days ago, we welcomed a large number of Indians who came to Sri Lanka to watch the T20 World Cup Cricket Match between India and Pakistan. We are exploring expanding cooperation in energy connectivity and renewables; digital systems and public infrastructure; maritime security and Indian Ocean stability and security; ports, logistics and supply chains; skills and human capital development and a range of other areas. We are open to considering all possible cooperation. A stronger Sri Lankan economy complements India’s growth trajectory. When Sri Lanka and India work together, it will strengthen regional stability and economic resilience across the Indian Ocean Region.Your government seems to be doing a tough balancing act, as it looks to secure investments from China while not jeopardising India’s security. As Sri Lanka looks to finalise the SOP for foreign research vessels this year, will it take into account India’s concern that vessels with dual-use military capabilities are not allowed to dock in Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka maintains an independent foreign policy. At the same time, geography dictates responsibility. We recognise India’s legitimate security interests in the Indian Ocean region. Our security is intertwined. We have signed an Agreement on Defence Cooperation between the two countries. Sri Lanka will not allow its territory to be used in ways that undermine other countries’ security. Stability in the Indian Ocean Region is a shared responsibility, and Sri Lanka will always work closely with India to uphold it. Negotiations for the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement remain stalled. You have stressed economic freedom but given the growing economic ties, do you think it might be time now to conclude the agreement?Sri Lanka believes the time is right to re-energise economic engagement with India. Global trade dynamics are shifting. India is expanding its trade architecture. Sri Lanka will explore ways to integrate into this growth environment in a mutually beneficial manner. We would like to recommence discussions on ETCA in a progressive and transparent manner. We are expanding free trade zone capacity and welcome Indian investment. Beyond trade agreements, Sri Lanka and India port partnerships offer tremendous opportunities. Sri Lanka’s ports already serve as major transshipment hubs for Indian cargo. By deepening cooperation we can: position Sri Lanka as a logistics and value-add partner to Indian manufacturing; develop joint ventures in maritime services; strengthen industrial connectivity; and integrate more closely into regional supply chains. Economic integration should create jobs in Sri Lanka, and build resilience for both economies. The direction in which we seek to proceed is clear: deeper cooperation with India, structured integration and shared growth for mutual benefit. Go to Source
