Holidaying has become geopolitical in our region

As the English proverb "killing two birds with one stone" goes, it was evident when India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar urged Indian holidaygoers to visit Sri Lanka given the recent developments in the neighbourhood.

Speaking at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Mumbai under the theme of “Why Bharat Matters” on Thursday, the top Indian diplomat spoke in detail about how India came forward to assist Sri Lanka during the worst economic crisis in 2022 when no other nations were willing to do so.

“The next time you want to take a holiday, go to Sri Lanka. I’m serious. Please go to Sri Lanka and I say this to all of you. Mix with normal persons in Sri Lanka and ask them 'what do you think about India?' And I can tell you, you feel yourself grow with that answer. For the average Sri Lankan, even when the world turned its back on Sri Lanka, the only country which came forward—not in a small way—we actually committed USD 4.5 billion to Sri Lanka—much more than the package the then Sri Lankan government was negotiating with the International Monetary Fund at that time,” Dr. Jaishankar said, recalling his past visit when the country was running out of food, essential supplies, and fuel.

Coincidentally, the message to visit Sri Lanka comes at a time when Indo-Maldives relations have soured after the recent Maldives elections that brought in a new government, and Indian travel agents have begun boycotting the Maldives as a tourist destination for Indian travellers.

There is no need, therefore, for Sri Lanka's tourism minister to take his buddies and promote Sri Lanka tourism abroad, burning limited foreign exchange at road shows with this kind of free publicity by such senior figures from foreign governments.

With India scheduled to go for national polls in the coming months, the message is also aimed at ordinary Indians about how the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government put India’s position in the region amidst geo-political challenges and Indo-China rivalry in the neighbouring countries.

Many local politicians, including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, were quick to acknowledge the promotional message from the Indian Minister and expressed their gratitude on their social media channels.

One Colombo-based foreign diplomat was heard saying even ‘holidaying’ has become geopolitical in the region, referring to recent incidents where Prime Minister Modi visited Lakshadweep to promote Indian beaches as alternatives to the Maldives, and now his foreign minister is a ‘brand ambassador’ for Sri Lanka tourism.