India Reiterates Land Bridge Proposal, Sri Lanka Remains Cautious

Modi’s renewed pitch for India-Sri Lanka connectivity sees no immediate response from Colombo.

India has once again proposed the development of a land connectivity project with Sri Lanka, but the island nation has remained non-committal on the matter, the Daily Mirror reports.

The renewed proposal came during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Sri Lanka. It echoes a similar initiative first floated in 2002, when Sri Lanka proposed a land bridge connecting Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to Talaimannar in Sri Lanka, inspired by the ancient formation known as Ram Setu or Adam’s Bridge.

The plan envisioned road and rail links across the narrow stretch of ocean separating the two countries. Though the proposal was revived in later diplomatic exchanges and featured in joint statements under a previous government, it was notably absent in statements following President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to New Delhi last year.

During this latest visit, while India raised the topic again, the Sri Lankan side has not yet issued any official response or commitment.

On his return journey, Prime Minister Modi visited the sacred Ram Setu — a natural limestone shoal spanning roughly 30 miles across the Indian Ocean. Steeped in mythological and historical significance, the structure is revered in Hindu tradition as the bridge built by Lord Ram.

In related developments, India is reportedly open to considering Sri Lanka’s request to expand its apparel export quota — currently capped at 8 million units — to 50 million units. However, this will be evaluated only under the framework of the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), which is yet to resume formal negotiations.

Sri Lanka is actively seeking trade alternatives and supportive economic policies after the United States imposed a steep 44% tariff on its exports. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that Colombo had formally requested the quota expansion under the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement.

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