Sri Lanka seen as strategic opportunity for India-Israel cooperation
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean, its growing partnership with India and its expanding development needs could create new opportunities for trilateral cooperation with Israel, according to an opinion article published in The Jerusalem Post.
The article, authored by Dr Lauren Dagan Amoss, argues that while Sri Lanka may not currently rank among Israel’s foremost priorities in Asia, the island’s position along major Indian Ocean sea lanes and its importance within India’s maritime security environment make it a “strategic opportunity hiding in plain sight”.
The author notes that Sri Lanka should not be viewed solely through the lens of competition between India and China, stressing that Colombo has legitimate reasons to maintain relations with multiple international partners.
However, Sri Lanka’s strategic importance to India has increased in recent years, particularly amid New Delhi’s concerns over the presence of foreign research and survey vessels and the potential access of external actors to ports and maritime infrastructure close to India.
The article points to the strengthening of India-Sri Lanka relations following Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis, during which India provided around US$4 billion in assistance.
Since then, bilateral cooperation has expanded beyond emergency assistance to include energy, infrastructure, digital connectivity, trade and security.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025 is highlighted as a significant step in the relationship, with the two countries signing agreements covering electricity interconnection, digital development and defence cooperation.
India, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates have also agreed to cooperate on developing Trincomalee as an energy hub.
The article notes that India and Sri Lanka have steadily expanded defence and maritime cooperation through joint exercises, training, naval engagements, maritime surveillance and capacity-building.
While the author says these developments do not indicate that Sri Lanka is giving up its strategic autonomy, they suggest that India is increasingly integrating regional partners into a broader maritime security framework.
Against this backdrop, the article argues that Israel could explore opportunities for selective cooperation with Sri Lanka, particularly through partnerships involving India.
Agriculture is identified as a potential starting point, with the author pointing to India-Israel agricultural Centres of Excellence as a possible model for a trilateral initiative combining Israeli technology, Indian implementation experience and Sri Lankan development priorities.
The article also identifies maritime security, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and the protection of critical infrastructure as areas where Israeli expertise could complement India’s regional role.
Israel’s strengths in sensors, electro-optics, unmanned systems and maritime infrastructure protection could offer practical benefits to Sri Lanka, particularly as ports, energy facilities and digital infrastructure become increasingly interconnected, the author notes.
Rather than establishing a formal India-Israel-Sri Lanka strategic alliance, the article proposes a model of ‘functional trilateralism’ focused on specific projects designed to address Sri Lanka’s development and security requirements.
The India-UAE-Sri Lanka cooperation surrounding the proposed development of Trincomalee was cited as an example of how third-country participation could complement India’s interests without undermining Sri Lanka’s independence.
The article also stresses the need for Israel to recognize Sri Lanka’s political sensitivities, noting Colombo’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause and a two-state solution.
It argues that a sustainable relationship between Sri Lanka and Israel should extend beyond defence cooperation and include agriculture, water management, technology and trade.
The author further notes that Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Ambassador to Israel, Saman Kumar Chandrasiri, had identified agricultural technology, defence and trade as areas in which Colombo is interested in expanding bilateral cooperation.
According to the article, Sri Lanka could serve as an important test case for broader regional cooperation as India assumes an increasingly influential role across the Indian Ocean.
The author concludes that Israel should consider India not only as a bilateral strategic partner but also as a potential platform for cooperation with other countries in the region, with Sri Lanka emerging as one possible starting point.
-ENCL
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