China has long worked to establish its impact in countries such as the Indian Ocean region and Sri Lanka and the Maldives. But both island nations appear to be viewing through the malicious design of China, where Beijing is locking its country by expanding its financial subsidies. Pakistan has already been victimized. Now, Sri Lanka and the Maldives are increasingly turning their eyes to India, their all-weather allies.
India and Sri Lanka have worked to improve their bilateral relations and bring them to new heights. Coal Mining Union Minister Satish Chandra Dubi held a productive meeting on Saturday with Sri Lankan government’s Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handnetti. According to the ministry, the leaders discussed fostering bilateral cooperation in mineral exploration and mining, particularly to secure critical minerals essential to the economic and industrial growth of both countries. An important focus was placed on Sri Lanka’s vast graphite and beach sand mineral resources. This has great potential to support a global shift towards clean energy, advanced battery technology and high-tech industries.
During the meeting, both leaders said they recognized the importance of strengthening the opportunities for mineral exploration and mining for Indian companies in Sri Lanka. Dubey emphasized that India’s national critical mineral mission is aimed at ensuring a stable supply of essential ingredients such as lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt and copper. He said India is actively working to grant key mineral mining rights, develop international partnerships and encourage Indian companies to acquire mineral assets worldwide. Both sides engaged in detailed discussions on exploration opportunities, technical collaboration and investment outlook for these sectors. The government also discussed the possibility of government (G2G)-based mineral exploration, and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) expressed interest in conducting mineral valuations in Sri Lanka. Additionally, Sri Lanka has called on India to encourage Indian companies to participate in the exploration and development of beach sand and graphite resources.
The final decision of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between India’s Mines Ministry and the Geological Survey & Mining Bureau of Sri Lanka on “cooperation in the field of geology and mineral resources” was also discussed. Once concluded, Dubey expressed his confidence that this MOU would provide a powerful framework for deepening collaboration in capacity building, mining exploration and advanced mineral processing. He reiterated India’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in the modernization of mining through skill development, knowledge exchange and technical and financial support.
Take this opportunity, Dubey states: Working together will help us maximize the potential of our mineral resources and ensure mutual growth and sustainability. ” The conference concluded with a positive note, with both leaders agreeing to formalize the agreement and accelerate efforts to explore new paths for cooperation in the mineral sector.
