India gains ‘advantage’ over China as Sri Lanka’s new leader seeks to balance ties

India has Sri Lanka’s ear on security matters, observers say – citing Colombo’s appreciation for its neighbour’s help during its recent economic crisis – even as the South Asian island nation’s new president strives to balance ties with New Delhi and Beijing.

Sri Lanka elected Marxist lawmaker Anura Kumara Dissanayake as president on last month, marking a decisive shift away from the old political elite that many blamed for the country’s economic collapse.

Dissanayake triumphed over opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and former president Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had assumed power two years ago after the economy hit rock bottom.

The election came as Sri Lanka strives to recover from a severe crisis marked by shortages of essential goods, including food, medicine, and fuel, sparking widespread protests in 2022 that ultimately forced former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign and flee the country.

Sri Lankan leaders – including Dissanayake – must adeptly balance relations between India, China, and other major powers such as the United States and Japan, said Neil Devotta, professor of politics and international affairs at Wake Forest University in the US.