How India got entangled in the geopolitical games in 1950s Ceylon

In November 1955, the governor general of Ceylon, Oliver Goonetilleke, invited the Indian high commissioner, Birendra Narayan Chakravarty, to spend a few days as his guest in the hill station of Nuwara Eliya. The meeting went well – at first.

“I had a good opportunity of talking with him freely on various subjects, though later when the Pakistan High Commissioner also came as a house guest, the talks became somewhat restrained,” Chakravarty wrote in a letter to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Chakravarty’s letters reveal a picture of the diplomatic relationship at the time between India and Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. On the surface, it might appear that the two enjoyed warm diplomatic ties after they attained independence from Britain, but in truth, there were tensions simmering between them.

What was souring the relations especially was the lack of clarity on India’s role in the island. Should India have a hands-off approach? Or should it be more involved?

Geopolitical assistance

In Nuwara Eliya, Goonetilleke expressed disappointment that India was not giving Ceylon more geopolitical help. “The Governor-General also asked whether it is not possible for Mr. Nehru whose views are listened to with the greatest respect in the world, to take up the causes of the closest neighbours like Ceylon...

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