Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met Sunday to advance a proposal for a cross-border oil pipeline, signaling a deepening of energy integration between the two South Asian neighbors.
The proposed multi-product pipeline is designed to connect Nagapattinam in southern India to the Trincomalee Tank Farm and the capital city of Colombo.
The initiative aims to stabilize energy supplies and reduce costs as both nations navigate global market uncertainties fueled by ongoing conflicts in West Asia.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that the leaders reviewed the pipeline as a cornerstone of a broader energy hub in Trincomalee.
The meeting follows preliminary discussions held in February 2024 between the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Sri Lankan energy officials, focusing on building a multi-product pipeline linking the two countries.
“The two sides reviewed ongoing initiatives, including enhanced connectivity in the energy sector and the potential for expanded joint ventures,” Misri said.
Sri Lankan officials previously noted that the project requires extensive feasibility studies, including technical assessments and financial modeling, before construction begins.
The project would build upon existing collaborations between the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal Ltd. and Lanka IOC. The high-level meeting, marking the first visit by an Indian vice president to the island nation, also reinforced New Delhi’s “Neighbourhood First” policy.
The visit is also expected to pave the way for formal agreements that integrate the power grids and digital infrastructures of the two nations, further cementing their civilizational and economic ties.
