From Partner to Patron: How India is Influencing Control over Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province
The Eastern Province of Sri Lanka comprises Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara. It is one of the most geopolitically sensitive regions & of immense strategic significance due to its natural harbor, wealth of minerals & maritime importance. We look at how India is using development aid, religious & cultural exchange, investment partnerships to forge strategic long-term control over the Eastern province.
1. Housing Projects
Type of Influence: Construction and rehabilitation of housing for displaced communities, primarily Tamil and Muslim populations, through Indian grant assistance.
Completed Projects:
• Thousands of houses constructed in Batticaloa, Trincomalee, and Ampara districts under Indian Housing Project Phases I & II.
Ongoing Projects:
• Ongoing Indian-funded housing assistance under Phase III targeting conflict-affected and economically disadvantaged families.
India’s Strategic Objective:
• Local allegiance and soft power among beneficiary communities (especially Tamil and Muslim groups).
• Dependency-based goodwill linking Indian generosity.
Dangerous Implications for Sri Lanka:
• Cultivation of Indian-aligned political and social support bases compromises Sri Lanka’s Central governance or even provincial.
• Indian presence via administrative partnerships and cultural imprints on community development – dislodges Sri Lanka’s Central Govt control
2. Road & Infrastructure Projects
Type of Influence: Road and bridge construction under Indian line of credit and grant mechanisms.
Completed Projects:
• Road networks in Batticaloa and Trincomalee by Indian contractors.
Ongoing Projects:
• Rural road development with Indian materials and Indian labor.
• Large-scale hiring of Indian laborers by Indian contractors such as IRCON International, NBCC, and Ashoka Buildcon displaced local labor and bypassed domestic construction firms.
India’s Strategic Objective:
• India’s logistical control and integration of Eastern transit corridors.
Dangerous Implications for Sri Lanka:
• Infrastructure dependency.
• Marginalization of Sri Lankan contractors, Sri Lankan labor and local industries – long term consequences ignored by Sri Lanka’s Parliament.
3. Rail Connectivity (Trincomalee)
Type of Influence: Development of strategic logistics through new rail lines.
Completed Projects:
• Initial assessments and repair of defunct railway lines to Trincomalee.
Ongoing Projects:
• Feasibility studies for integrated rail-ports logistics under Indo-Japanese strategic alliance.
India’s Strategic Objective:
• Eastern logistics foothold for India-led Indo-Pacific supply chains.
Dangerous Implications for Sri Lanka:
• Loss of sovereign control over national transport corridors to India.
4. School & Educational Influence
Type of Influence: India-funded school renovations, textbooks, scholarships.
Completed Projects:
• Renovation of 30+ schools, computer labs, and student buses provided in Trincomalee, Batticaloa.
Ongoing Projects:
• Launch of e-VidyaBharati, Hindi language modules, academic MOUs.
India’s Strategic Objective:
• Educational identity and create an Indo-centric worldview.
Dangerous Implications for Sri Lanka:
• Undermines national education standards and sovereignty.
5. Cultural, Religious, Tourism, and Youth Exchange Programs
Type of Influence:
Temple construction, cultural festival funding, heritage tourism promotion, and youth engagement programs linking Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province with Tamil Nadu, India.
Completed Projects:
- Renovation of over 150 Hindu temples (kovils) and establishment of mythical Ramayana Trail tourism nodes to attract Indian pilgrims.
- Organization and funding of Tamil cultural festivals celebrating Tamil Hindu heritage in Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Ampara.
- Sponsorship of cricket coaching camps, local youth tournaments, and scholarships for Eastern Province youth to participate in inter-provincial and cross-border cultural exchanges.
Ongoing Projects:
- Continued temple construction, religious tours to Tamil Nadu, and facilitation of youth festivals, performing arts, educational seminars, and inter-community dialogues.
- Promotion of heritage tourism routes connecting Sri Lanka’s Eastern Hindu sites with Tamil Nadu pilgrimage circuits. Concentration only on Hindu promotion.
- Development of sports infrastructure and youth leadership workshops involving Tamil Nadu and Sri Lankan youth.
India’s Strategic Objective:
- Create and foster a pan-Tamil Hindu identity aligned with Indian religious-political interests.
- Enhance India’s soft power through cultural diplomacy, tourism, and youth engagement.
- Strengthen cross-border community and ethnic ties, cultivating long-term goodwill and influence among the youth.
Dangerous Implications for Sri Lanka:
- Intensification of identity politics potentially disrupting religious harmony and social cohesion.
- Undermining Sri Lanka’s national unity through cultural realignment and external influence on youth identity.
- Deepening Indian soft power in the Eastern Province’s socio-political landscape via cultural, tourism, and youth programs that promote only pro-Indian Hindu narrative.
6. Port Development (Trincomalee)
Type of Influence: Strategic port development under Indo-Japan partnership.
Completed Projects: India-backed funding for oil tank farm rehabilitation- India, along with Japan and the UAE, funded the refurbishment of the WWII-era oil tank farm at China Bay, Trincomalee. Managed by Lanka IOC (an Indian Oil subsidiary), the project restored key oil storage facilities, including 14 tanks fully leased to India and joint operation of 61 others under a 50-year lease. Completed by early 2025, this rehabilitation strengthened India’s strategic energy foothold on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast, giving it significant control over critical fuel storage infrastructure.
Ongoing Projects:
Joint port development and Indian shipping access.
India’s Strategic Objective:
• Maritime control and alternative to Hambantota.
Dangerous Implications for Sri Lanka:
• Risk of turning Trincomalee into a foreign-controlled naval asset – already areas are prohibited for Sri Lankans to travel.
• Indian operational control of hundreds of acres of strategic land through oil tank farm leases until at least 2071.
* Sri Lanka losing control over a historically important & strategically significant natural harbor that is key to strengthening Sri Lanka’s geopolitical importance diplomatically.
7. Air and Sea Connectivity & Port Development
Type of Influence: Maritime access and infrastructure development aimed at connecting Eastern Sri Lanka with Indian strategic and economic networks, alongside support for fisheries and coastal communities.
Completed & Ongoing Port Projects:
- Rehabilitation of Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm
India, alongside Japan and the UAE, is backing development of the WWII-era tank farm as part of a proposed energy hub in Trincomalee.
• Discussions underway for a multiproduct pipeline from India to Trincomalee, managed via Lanka IOC. - Strategic Energy Hub Integration
Agreement signed during PM Modi’s April 2025 visit to establish an energy hub in Trincomalee.
• Talks involving CPC, Indian Oil, UAE’s AD Ports define pipelines, bunkering, port modernization. - Joint Power & Renewable Projects
India’s NTPC signed MOU for 120 MW solar project at Sampur.
• Grid interconnection and LNG pipeline projects underway. - Naval Engagement & Rescue Training Visits
Indian naval vessels (e.g., INS Khanjar, Nireekshak) visited Trincomalee.
• Ongoing SLINEX exercises along Eastern coast. - Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC)
India is helping set up MRCC in Trincomalee under “Eyes in the Ocean” surveillance. - Fisheries Development & Coastal Livelihood Support
India has provided fishing boats, nets, cold storage, and ice-making plants in Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts through grant assistance.
• Training programs by Indian marine experts focus on sustainable fishing techniques, safety, and post-harvest management.
• Ongoing projects include fish processing modernization and socio-economic skill development for fishermen communities.
India’s Strategic Objective:
• Establish maritime dominance along the Eastern coast.
• Trincomalee’s port used as a logistics base to counter Chinese influence in Hambantota.
• Build grassroots goodwill and economic dependency among coastal fishing communities.
Dangerous Implications for Sri Lanka:
• Trincomalee becoming a maritime outpost under Indian influence.
• Civil-military dual-use infrastructure threatens sovereignty.
• Dependence on Indian shipping corridors reduces regional neutrality.
• Erosion of local autonomy over marine resources and over-reliance on Indian fisheries support.
Trincomalee Port Usage Overview:
| Initiative | Status | Description |\n|——————————|——————-|————————————————————|\n| Oil tank farm upgrade | Completed/Ongoing | Part of India–Japan–UAE energy hub project |\n| Multiproduct pipeline | Planning/Ongoing | Strategic fuel connectivity with Indian Oil |\n| Solar & grid interconnection | Completed/Ongoing | NTPC solar project; grid/pipeline planning |\n| Naval visits & exercises | Completed/Ongoing | Defense cooperation, interoperability, rescue drills |\n| MRCC establishment | Ongoing | Maritime safety & surveillance support |
8. Health & Pharmaceuticals
Type of Influence: Indian medical aid, pharma imports, and facility support.
Completed Projects:
• Donation of medical equipment to Eastern hospitals.
Ongoing Projects:
• Distribution networks for Indian pharmaceuticals and health programs.
India’s Strategic Objective:
• Cultivate health diplomacy.
Dangerous Implications for Sri Lanka:
• Over-reliance on Indian pharma for essential drugs – completely ignoring hela medicine.
9. Media & Communication
Type of Influence: Tamil Nadu TV, newspapers, online propaganda.
Completed Projects:
• Tamil satellite channels (Sun TV, Vijay TV) dominate viewership.
Ongoing Projects:
• Digital news platforms and Tamil Nadu press dominate opinion.
India’s Strategic Objective:
• Media capture of Tamil political identity toward India/Tamil Nadu.
Dangerous Implications for Sri Lanka:
• Cultural realignment and erosion of national unity narratives.
10. Defense Engagement
Type of Influence: Naval exercises, surveillance cooperation.
Completed Projects:
• Bilateral patrols and defense training near Trincomalee.
Ongoing Projects:
• Indo-Sri Lanka joint naval exercises.
India’s Strategic Objective:
• Embed military presence via non-combat cooperation.
Dangerous Implications for Sri Lanka:
• Intelligence penetration and partial foreign military dependency.
11. Local Government & NGO Partnerships
Type of Influence: Coordination with local councils and aid groups.
Completed Projects:
• Partnership with Eastern Provincial Council and NGOs like Women’s Education & Research Centre (WERC), Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), and faith-linked humanitarian forums via NCCSL.
Ongoing Projects:
• Joint training and civil society forums.
India’s Strategic Objective:
• Influence governance from the grassroots.
Dangerous Implications for Sri Lanka:
• Undermines central authority and facilitates foreign policy bypass.
12. Indian Nationals & Labor
Type of Influence: Indian workers employed in construction, trade.
Completed Projects:
• Large-scale hiring of Indian labor in road and housing projects.
IRCON International Road & Rail Projects
- Location:Trincomalee–Colombo rail upgrades, Omanthai–Jaffna–KKS line, Batticaloa roads
- Implementing Agency:IRCON International (Govt of India PSU)
- Details:
Employed hundreds of skilled/semi-skilled workers from Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Odisha.
• Roles included engineering, welding, electrical, track-laying.
• Workers housed in isolated camps, raising concerns over cultural friction and economic displacement.
Indian Line of Credit Road Projects
- Location:Vavuniya–Mannar, Trincomalee, Eastern Province
- Implementing Contractors:Indian firms like L&T, RITES, Ashoka Buildcon
- Details:
Skilled Indian workers supervised or replaced Sri Lankan teams.
• Led to complaints from engineering bodies, unions over lack of job creation.
Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm Rehabilitation
- Location:China Bay, Trincomalee
- Implementing Agency:Lanka IOC
- Details:
Indian technicians brought in under “technical expertise” clauses.
• Bypassed local labor provisions.
India’s Strategic Objective:
• Establish informal diaspora presence.
Implications for Sri Lanka:
| Issue | Impact |
| Local unemployment | Displacement of Sri Lankan masons, carpenters, welders in conflict zones |
| Economic dependency | Wage repatriation to India rather than circulation in local economies |
| Cultural friction | Language and living-style barriers caused discontent in host communities |
| National security | Long-term Indian labor settlements raise demographic and sovereignty fears |
13. Minerals Extracted or Controlled by Indian Companies
Overview:
The Eastern Province is rich in minerals such as ilmenite, rutile, zircon, and silica sand. Indian companies have been active in extracting and processing these resources.
Key Indian Players:
- Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a Government of India PSU, has partnered with Sri Lankan firms to mine heavy mineral sands, especially ilmenite and rutile.
- Some Indian private companies are involved in sand mining, often subcontracted locally with Indian technical support.
Locations:
- Coastal areas near Batticaloa and Trincomalee are prime mining sites.
- Inland sites near Ampara are under exploration.
Economic and Environmental Concerns:
- Reports of environmental degradation, including coastal erosion and habitat loss.
- Economic benefits skewed toward foreign firms with limited local employment.
- Lack of transparency and local consultation.
Implications for Sri Lanka:
- Consolidating India’s economic footprint in the East
14. Agricultural Collaboration and Influence
- Type of Influence:
India has engaged in agricultural development projects in the Eastern Province, focusing on irrigation, crop improvement, and farmer training, often through grants, technical assistance, and joint ventures. - Key Projects:
- Irrigation Rehabilitation:Indian-funded efforts to rehabilitate irrigation canals and water management systems in Ampara and Batticaloa to boost paddy cultivation and vegetable farming.
- Seed and Fertilizer Supply:Provision of agricultural inputs such as high-yield seeds and fertilizers from India to local farmers under aid programs.
- Training and Knowledge Transfer:Agricultural extension services supported by Indian agricultural universities and institutions, offering farmer education on modern techniques and sustainable practices.
- Agro-Processing Initiatives:Collaboration with local agro-businesses to improve post-harvest processing, storage, and value addition, sometimes involving Indian technical partners.
- Strategic Objectives:
- Strengthen economic ties through rural development.
- Build goodwill among local farming communities.
- Establish dependency on Indian agricultural inputs and expertise.
- Implications for Sri Lanka:
- Risk of creating long-term reliance on Indian agricultural products and knowledge systems.
- Potential influence over local food security policies and rural livelihoods.
- Undermining Sri Lanka’s agricultural sovereignty and self-reliance.
15. Fisheries Development & Coastal Livelihood Support
- Type of Influence:
India has actively engaged in supporting fisheries and coastal livelihoods in the Eastern Province through technical assistance, equipment provision, and capacity-building programs aimed at local fishing communities. - Completed Projects:
Distribution of fishing boats, nets, cold storage facilities, and ice-making plants in Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts funded by Indian grants.
• Training programs conducted by Indian marine experts to enhance sustainable fishing techniques, safety standards, and post-harvest handling. - Ongoing Projects:
Continued collaboration on coastal resource management and introduction of modern fish processing units.
• Joint India-Sri Lanka initiatives to improve fishermen’s socio-economic conditions via skill development and market linkages. - India’s Strategic Objective:
Build grassroots goodwill and economic dependency among coastal communities.
• Strengthen India’s influence over vital maritime and economic zones in the Eastern Province.
• Counterbalance other regional actors’ influence, including China, in coastal development. - Dangerous Implications for Sri Lanka:
Risk of eroding local autonomy over marine resources.
• Potential over-dependence on Indian equipment and expertise, limiting domestic industry growth.
• Strategic soft power expansion through community-level economic control.
16. Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Aid
- Type of Influence:
India has played a significant role in providing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance in the Eastern Province, particularly following natural disasters and conflict-related crises. - Completed Projects:
Post-tsunami reconstruction aid including rebuilding of homes, schools, and clinics in affected coastal areas of Batticaloa and Trincomalee.
• Medical camps and supply of emergency relief materials such as food, water purification tablets, and medicines coordinated by Indian government agencies and NGOs. - Ongoing Projects:
Continued support for rehabilitation of conflict-affected populations through livelihood programs and infrastructure restoration.
• Capacity-building initiatives for disaster preparedness and response involving training of local officials and community volunteers. - India’s Strategic Objective:
Strengthen bilateral goodwill and humanitarian influence.
• Establish India as a key partner in regional stability and development.
• Expand soft power by embedding Indian presence in local community resilience efforts. - Dangerous Implications for Sri Lanka:
Potential dependency on Indian aid agencies for critical humanitarian functions.
• Increased Indian influence over local governance and civil society.
• Undermining Sri Lankan sovereignty in disaster management and relief operations.
As can be seen India’s initiatives though framed as development and cooperation, when connecting the dots to the overall objective it reveals a strategic influence-building exercise. Where are the advisors & policy makers of Sri Lanka & have Parliamentarians ignored the grave risk of these incremental developments to national sovereignty & economic & social sovereignty while Sri Lanka is fast distancing itself from geopolitical neutrality to becoming a vassal state. Will there be any need for future elections or legislators when Sri Lanka becomes digitally controlled!
Shenali D Waduge
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