Legacy and new issues with India-Sri Lanka

India’s Vice President C. Radhakrishnan visited Sri Lanka from April 19-20, reaffirming Colombo’s importance in India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and MAHASAGAR vision. While ties remain stable, legacy issues persist: Tamil demands for devolution, illegal fishing disputes, and the stalled Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement. The hope is for these to be resolved within Sri Lanka; till then, the unresolved challenges will continue to test the depth and durability of the bilateral.

Courtesy: Reuters

23 April 2026

India’s Neighbourhood First policy needs a reboot

BY Rajiv Bhatia

Outcomes of the Neighbourhood First policy (NFP) are often mixed, shaped by actions on both sides. Recent engagements with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Nepal suggest an opportune moment to recalibrate NFP, enhance its effectiveness, and bridge perceptions of India as an “elder brother” rather than a “big brother.”

Courtesy: JyotiParekh/Wikimedia Commons

9 August 2012

Democracy begins at home

BY Makarand Narwekar

Participatory governance, especially at the local level, can transform a locality into an ideal community. The experience of officials working with the municipal corporation for bringing about changes in Colaba, South Mumbai, demonstrates the potential of people’s involvement in democracy on the ground.

Courtesy: Indian Express

2 March 2012

UP, yesterday and tomorrow

BY Manjeet Kripalani

Studying Mayawati's legacy in Uttar Pradesh, Manjeet Kripalani argues that despite pervasive corruption in the state , Mayawati has been successful in doing two things - instilling pride in the Dalit and ensuring that the benefits of the poverty programmes reach the poor.