India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, held two separate meetings on Wednesday — one with former Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Sabry PC on the broader trajectory of bilateral ties, and a second with Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Minister Sunil Handunnetti on industrial-sector collaboration — placing engagement with both the government and the opposition foreign-policy bench on the same calendar day.
In his readout of the Sabry meeting, the former Foreign Minister said the discussions were “very good” and ranged across “many important aspects of the India–Sri Lanka partnership.” He pointed to “growing trust and goodwill” between the two countries and said the partnership had “delivered meaningful benefits to our peoples,” expressing confidence that it would continue to strengthen. Both sides acknowledged the steady progress achieved and reiterated a shared commitment to advancing mutual interests, NewsFirst reported.
On the Handunnetti track, Jha posted on X that the conversation centred on the minister’s ongoing initiatives and potential collaborations to create new opportunities in Sri Lanka’s industrial sector, including measures to strengthen current programmes and enhance supply chain linkages between India and Sri Lanka. The Industry Minister had previously briefed the IMF mission in April on SME challenges and the production-based economy push.
The day’s twin calls fit the continuing pace of New Delhi’s Colombo engagement under Jha — including his May 5 call for a “bold reset” on trade, ETCA and Palk Strait connectivity and the Jaffna University development grants signed on June 2.
Sources: NewsFirst — Jha and Sabry meeting; NewsFirst — Jha and Handunnetti meeting.
