Controversial former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Subramanian Swamy concluded a visit to Sri Lanka this week, where he met with the war crimes accused Sri Lankan president and prime minister, as well as delivering an address to a military think tank on the island.

Swamy announced his intention to visit the island earlier this month after meeting with Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in India, stating he was hoping to “meet my dear friends the Rajapaksa & family”.

"It has always been a honour to host you here,” tweeted back Namal Rajapaksa, the son of prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and a minister in the current government. “We look forward to seeing you soon.”

His Excellency Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner came home for tea. We had a robust friendly discussion. I hope soon to visit Sri Lanka and meet my dear friends the Rajapaksa & family. I will tweet when the details are finalised. pic.twitter.com/uT6AkBvYXD

— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) September 29, 2021

The BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member was greeted by Sri Lankan ministers on arrival in Colombo, before making his way to Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Navaratri celebrations. “Spent a lovely evening celebrating the auspicious festival of #Navaratri with long time friend and colleague,” tweeted Rajapaksa.

He also held a meeting with the Colombo-based wing of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) a sister wing to India’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Swamy then held a meeting with Sri Lanka’s president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Mahinda’s younger brother. “Dr. Swamy, who has held several ministerial portfolios, advocated for a strong friendly relationship between Sri Lanka and India and held the strong view that India should assist in defeating terrorism in Sri Lanka,” said Sri Lanka’s Presidential Media Division.

Later that day, Swamy addressed a Sri Lankan military think tank, where he spoke alongside another war crimes accused Sri Lankan official – defence secretary Kamal Gunaratne.

“National Security in the 21st century is not about advancing armies or aeroplanes flying above… and no country is big or small. All countries are superpowers or nothing, according to their preparation to meet cyberwarfare,” he was reported as stating.

“The relation between the two countries dates back to centuries and it is a time tested one,” Swamy added in remarks to The Pioneer. “We need matured political leaders and not commissars to preserve the sanctity of these ties”.

Swamy himself has a controversial political background. A senior member of the BJP and known Hindu extremist, he has frequently been accused of hate speech and racist remarks. In 2011, Harvard University dropped two economics courses taught by the lawmaker, following his call for  only Muslims who "acknowledge that their ancestors were Hindus" be allowed to vote in India and the demolition of hundreds of mosques.

Last year, Pakistan’s prime minister Imran Khan also likened his remarks on Muslims to that of the Nazis. The UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide expressed concern over the increase in hate speech and discrimination against minorities in India, and cited Swamy’s comments adding, “statements such as those expressed by Member of Parliament Subramanian Swamy, that all people are not equal, and that Muslims are not in an ‘equal category’ as others are extremely alarming.”

“Hate speech and the dehumanisation of others goes against international human rights norms and values,” Dieng noted.