By The Pulseline News Desk
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna’s (JVP) five-day engagement with India moved beyond party-to-party discussions on its final day, with JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva meeting Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi.
Jaishankar described the meeting as a “good discussion” on strengthening the deep bonds of friendship between India and Sri Lanka, while reiterating New Delhi’s support for Sri Lanka’s progress and prosperity.
The meeting came as the JVP delegation concluded a visit that included extensive engagement with India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), covering political organisation, grassroots mobilisation and development programmes.
Silva led the five-member JVP delegation, which visited India from September 27 to October 1 at the invitation of the BJP under its “Know BJP” programme.
The BJP said the visit was intended to strengthen engagement between the two parties, exchange organisational experiences and deepen ties.
The delegation included JVP Central Committee member Chandrika Adikari, MP Aboobucker Athambawa, District Committee member Kabilan Suntharamoorthy and International Department member Kalpana Madhubhashini.
From party organisation to bilateral ties
During the visit, the delegation held discussions with BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santhosh and other senior BJP officials.
The discussions focused on the BJP’s organisational structure, grassroots membership network and development programmes.
The JVP delegation also met Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and visited the Delhi BJP office, where it was received by Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra.
Its programme included interactions with BJP women’s and youth organisations, as well as visits to the Indian Parliament and the National War Memorial.
Earlier discussions also touched on issues of importance to Sri Lanka-India relations, including Indian fishermen, refugee resettlement and bilateral cooperation.
The meeting with Jaishankar on the final day, however, brought the engagement into a wider diplomatic context.
While much of the visit centred on political and organisational exchanges between the JVP and BJP, the discussion with India’s External Affairs Minister directly involved the broader relationship between the two countries.
Notable shift in engagement
The visit is also significant in the context of the JVP’s political evolution.
The party was historically associated with strong opposition to Indian involvement in Sri Lanka. Its current engagement with India’s political establishment reflects a markedly broader approach to international relations as the JVP has become a central force in Sri Lanka’s governing structure.
The party’s discussions in New Delhi come at a time when Sri Lanka-India relations encompass a wide range of issues, including trade, investment, connectivity, energy, fisheries, security and regional cooperation.
The BJP’s “Know BJP” programme has provided the JVP with an opportunity to study the organisational practices of one of India’s largest political parties while establishing direct links with senior BJP figures.
For India, the engagement provides an additional channel for dialogue with a party that now plays a central role in Sri Lanka’s political and governmental affairs.
Beyond the five-day visit
The JVP delegation’s departure from India marks the end of a structured five-day programme, but the significance of the visit extends beyond the meetings held in New Delhi.
The delegation has returned with first-hand exposure to the BJP’s organisational model and with new political contacts in India.
The meeting with Jaishankar has also given the visit a broader bilateral dimension, placing the JVP’s engagement with the BJP within the larger framework of Sri Lanka-India relations.
Whether the visit leads to sustained party-to-party engagement or new avenues of bilateral cooperation remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the JVP’s engagement with India has entered a new phase, marked by direct interaction not only with the BJP but also with senior figures in the Indian Government.
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