Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 25 Jan 2015 21:12

News not reported

Some 20 naval ships from PLAN was supposed to encircle Sri Lanka and help the former President to keep his regime in power. The Naval ships were within the Sri Lankan waters during the election.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 25 Jan 2015 21:26

chetak wrote: What hold do you have over the lankans??

Anything??

The chinese will give them ten times over what ever India may give them.

Buddhism and shared history, culture, language and traditions. The famous Chinese pilgrims came to India and SL to get Buddhist texts.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 25 Jan 2015 21:37

Javee wrote:Watching Srilankan politics just gives me goosebumps. For all the talks about how Sinhalese are different, they do the same thing like what has happened in TN politics (Amma vs Thatha). They have met all the requirements to be our 30th state.

Been saying that for a long time. British played havoc in the Indian subcontinent, and some of the elite let some other territories get away. These territories were traditionally part of the Indian Civilization. Nepal and Srilanka are no different from Odisha, Gujarat or Tamil Nadu. Once Tibet and Burma had come under Indian influence, parts of those territories should have been brought in as well. India gets Andaman & Nicboar Islands, but loses Srilanka. It sounds ludicrous.

I doubt the mistakes of the past could be rectified, even if it was a horror perpetuated by the British. India is not going to act like Russia, and annex foreign territories. There would be more Indians protesting about it than the people/territories that get annexed.

The best and most practical outcome is that SL tamilians get recognized as first class citizens, war crimes are investigated, criminals punished and life moves on.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 26 Jan 2015 02:59

A Game Changer for China and India in Sri Lanka?
DeepLow Matt

On January 18, a Reuters reported claimed that Sri Lanka’s now former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, had expelled the station chief of India’s intelligence agency in Colombo after accusing him of working against his government and supporting the opposition.India denied the claim, but the report serves as an example of Rajapaksa’s thorny attitude towards New Delhi, irrespective of the face presented by public diplomacy.The docking last September of a Chinese naval submarine in Colombo turned heads in New Delhi, just as the new government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was still getting up to speed. The event underlined the magnitude of Chinese influence in Sri Lanka under Rajapaksa, despite assurances from Beijing that the docking was a routine stopover to re-stock on supplies before heading to the Gulf of Aden to participate in anti-piracy operations.Calls for a reworking of India’s Indian Ocean strategy had been brewing within the strategic community for some time. More than 70 percent of India’s liquefied energy supplies travel through the Indian Ocean, making it vital to the country’s security. Close Indian allies such as Japan, which is now setting up a permanent anti-piracy outpost in Djibouti, also source vast quantities of natural gas and crude oil from the Middle East, which travels through the Indian Ocean towards Japanese shores. The international community is also trying to rapidly extend security from the Indian Ocean to the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.According to statements made during pre-poll campaigning, Sri Lanka picked up major loans for projects from countries such as Japan, Kuwait and China. Japan and Kuwait, on average, offered loans at rates of 0.2-0.3 percent. In contrast, the interest rate on the Chinese loans exceeded 3 percent.
Sirisena, in his pre-poll campaigning, had said that he would put a stop to the unchecked inroads that China had made in the country. Since taking over, his government has already stated that it plans to reassess the port project, a decision that will resonate positively in the Indian capital.The new government has apparently already made the first moves to rebalance towards Delhi, with the new Sri Lankan foreign minister, Mangala Samaraweera, making India his first port of call. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ramil Wickramasinghe in a recent interview said that “Rajapaksa played China and India against each other in Sri Lanka,” and that the new government will look to fix this.However, India’s ambition of checking Chinese influence in Sri Lanka by influencing Colombo to abandon, or at least minimize projects, may not be an easy task. For Sri Lanka to ignore China could be next to impossible. Sri Lanka today owes China billions, and in some cases, according to sources, significant sections of these loans did come with certain sovereign guarantees that were agreed between the two countries. These guarantees today give Beijing significant political advantages in Colombo irrespective of who is in power.
This situation makes it difficult for the new Sri Lankan government to renegotiate with China the projects and loans already signed off by the Rajapaksa administration. Beijing has leverage, which it will doubtless use to prevent Sirisena from diluting the influence China had built under the previous regime.At any rate, China is too large an economic entity for any country to actively sideline. The art of managing Beijing’s economic assertiveness is not easy to master, and requires political will and skillful diplomatic maneuvering. A recent example of the challenges has been witnessed in Myanmar, where the government reportedly decided to clamp down on the pace of Chinese economic and cultural infusion after it was found that Chinese language had started to overshadow Burmese in Yangon.
Rajapaksa’s policy of enjoying the best of both worlds was clear, as Japan remained Sri Lanka’s largest lender, even as China managed to build a strong political constituency in India’s neighborhood. The new Sri Lankan government will find that it has its work cut out just containing Chinese influence in the country, let alone fulfilling the Indian dream of eliminating it altogether. The growth of Chinese influence in Sri Lanka may slow, but Beijing is in the region for the long haul. It is up to India to turn this political change in Colombo to its advantage

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 26 Jan 2015 12:18

Lankan foreign policy will certainly shift direction towards India,well-knowing that India is its closest and best friend. Whenever there has been a crisis in the island,like the Tsunami,we were the frist to rush with assistance ,within 24 hrs.A close friend in the IA says that they lived for weeks in unimaginable conditions while providing the urgent relief,medical aid and assistance desperately needed. the IN cleared Galle Harbour within a few weeks even before US mil. forces arrived! When the Maldives were short of water recently,whom did they ask for immediate relief? India! When the sh*t hits the fan,these nations ,and by that I mean their people,well know that India will respond without strings attached. Sadly,as in the case of SL in recent years,a cabal of utterly corrupt and amoral leaders mostly belonging to just one family,tried to usurp the entire national wealth of the island with the connivance of China.Democracy was bludgeoned to death,in many cases.Scribes and opposition figures opposed to the regime fled the country for fear of their lives,including their High Commissioner in London who was assaulted by one of the Rajapakse clan's closest cronies!

This is the opportune time for India and Sri Lanka to enter into a close relationship based upon mutual trust and equality,especially as the current leadership of PM Modi,Pres,Sirisena,Ranil and Chandrika all have enormous goodwill for India. The Lankan FM Mangala's statements after meeting Sushma S. should reassure those who were most concerned about the direction that the country was heading for,a neo-colony ruled by the Chinese dragon. Thankfully, and we in India owe a huge debt to the brave Lankan voters,that most dangerous happening has been dumped into the IOR.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 27 Jan 2015 11:21

More sensational news about the alleged grand larceny of the Rajap[akse familia,this tome "100 kg of gold" from the treasury.

Video: Vass’s wife complains against Shiranthi
2015-01-26

Shayamali Perera, the wife of former Senior DIG Vass Gunawardena, today lodged a complaint at the Bribery Commission against former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa.

In her complaint, Ms. Perera alleged that the former first lady had been involved in a Rs. 500 million worth gold scam involving the Treasury.

“Army Intelligence Unit had informed my husband, when he was in the service that 100 kgs of gold worth Rs. 500 million had been swindled from the Treasury and Shiranthi Rajapaksa was involved in it,” Ms. Perera told journalists outside the Commission.

She charged Senior DIG Anura Senanayake and Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Chairman Hudson Samarasinghe of compelling former DIG Gunawardena to cover-up the incident.
- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/62113/vass-s- ... KKSdx.dpuf

Pirivate armoury hidden at the BMICH found,allegedly under control of the former regime,was unknown even when the CHOGM mtg. was held there. A ship full of weapons was also seized at Galle Port in the south,allegedly aboard an anti-piracy vessel again unknown to the regular armed forces.

Police file report on Rakna Lanka armoury
2015-01-26
Cinnamon Gardens Police today filed a report describing and listing the weapons recovered from the Rakna Lanka Armoury located at the BMICH.

The report states that on January 20 the Police checked the armoury after having obtained a search warrant from the Colombo Chief Magistrate. It was carried out in the presence of retired Major General Wijekoon Bandara and several journalists.

The Police had recovered 151 weapons which included 44xT-56 assault rifles, 35xS-84 weapons, 32 LMG rifles, 29x12 bore repeater guns and 10 shot guns.
The report also states that according to the Rakna Armour inventory there should have been 3,473 weapons including 2300-T-56 assault rifles, 670-S 84 weapons and 385 LMG guns.
It states that there was no record of the ammunition issued for these weapons.
The retired Major General who was director of Rakna Lanka confirmed that the company was Defence Ministry approved project and affiliated to the Ministry of Defence through a cabinet paper dated December 6, 2006
He said the weapons were purchased on a hire purchase basis from the forces and issued to the STF and other security forces. According to the report the company had not paid for the weapons.

Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya
- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/62131/rt-on-r ... UFGhL.dpuf

Xcpt from an interview with Gen.Sarath Fonseka.now bouncing back in the new dispensation and rehabilitated with all rank,medals, and priviliges restored to him..

Q What is your opinion about the Chinese Air/Naval development activities in the country?

We have to ensure the stability of the region. We have to accept that India is the regional power in this region and therefore, we should not try to do things that would irritate them. their security concerns and sentiments should not be rattled because we cannot clash with an regional super-power like India.

From the Chinese point of view, it is eventually that they would want to keep some hold in Sri Lanka and control certain aspects in this country because they have invested so much money in this country. Whatever it is, if the Chinese submarines dock in Sri Lanka it would definitely ruffle the feathers of the Indian authorities and they would not agree with it.
- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/62081/sf-unla ... MCzOf.dpuf

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 31 Jan 2015 13:35

Sri Lanka,Justice returns to the Court of the people.

Justice in the court of conscience - EDITORIAL
2015-01-30 23

The biggest issue in Sri Lanka’s independent judiciary came to a climax on Wednesday with Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake saying, “hail and farewell” in a memorable message that hopefully marks the restoration of the independence of the judiciary.

This crisis had shaken one of the pillars of democracy for 746 days after the Rajapaksa regime -- in an apparent act of vengeance over the now discredited Divi Neguma Act --impeached the Chief Justice in January 2013. Mohan Peiris was appointed by the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa to replace Shirani Bandaranayake.

On January 8, the silent but historic revolution of the people brought about a ‘Maithri Palanaya’ or an era of good governance, democracy and social justice. The all-party National Unity Government led by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, acting on one of the promises in the manifesto, asked Mohan Peiris to gracefully resign so that Shirani Bandaranayke could be reinstated as the Chief Justice.

On Tuesday, the Ven. Maduluwave Sobhitha Nayaka Thera – spiritual guru of the National Unity Government -- told Mr. Peiris to resign gracefully so that huge demonstrations could be avoided. But Mr. Peiris did not and on Wednesday thousands of lawyers and others demonstrated outside the Supreme Court, shouting, “Mohan Peiris go, go.” The Government acted fast. Citing flaws in the impeachment motion it declared that the removal of Shirani Bandaranayake was illegal and invalid. So was the appointment of Mohan Peiris as CJ. Thus on Wednesday, Shirani Bandaranayake resumed duties as the Chief Justice. In a move that virtually raised the judiciary from the dead she declared she would retire on Thursday though she could have served in that post for eight more years.
Addressing a landmark ceremonial sitting of the Supreme Court on Thursday, Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake said, “I have been bestowed with a breadth of opportunities by my country, a debt which in my 16 years of service within these hallowed walls of Justice, I have tried to repay. I believe in that period, I have done my utmost to uphold the rule of law and the independence of the Judiciary.”

Referring to her tenure as Chief Justice she said, “In my 16 years of service in the Judiciary, having delivered more than 320 considered judgments, I have taken utmost care to uphold the esteemed office that is, of a Judge and Chief Justice. As the bastion of Justice and the last redress of the people of my country, I considered the position bestowed upon me as one that is sacred and pure. Witnessing the erosion of Justice and the downfall of this hallowed institution for the past 746 days was as painful as the personal impact the unlawful impeachment had on me.”

In final words that will be recorded in the annals of history and justice, Shirani Bandaranayke said, “The battle which was fought for the past two years was not a personal one but one which was fought to uphold the rule of law and the integrity and independence of this institution. I may come and I may go, what matters is not the individual who holds this esteemed office, but the continued existence of its independence and its ability to deliver justice without fear, bias or favour. I am thankful to be able to bid farewell, knowing the fact that, generations from now, when society looks back at this occasion, it would be remembered as a day in which, time and nature brought about justice.”

She fully recommended the appointment of the senior and widely respected Justice K. Sripavan as the 44th Chief Justice and was sworn in yesterday by President Maithripala Sirisena. The judgments given by the benches headed by Mohan Peiris during the past two years will be validated through a motion in Parliament. Though justice was delayed justice has not been denied. We hope those in the judiciary, political leaders and the people will remember, as Mahatma Gandhi said that there is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supercedes all other courts.
- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/62593/justice ... eTOjK.dpuf

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 04 Feb 2015 14:12

http://www.dailymirror.lk/62787/india-t ... hed-abroad

India will help Sri Lanka set up a finance intelligence unit (FIU)-like entity in the island nation at Colombo's request to trace more than $5 billion allegedly stashed overseas by the erstwhile Rajapaksa regime.

President Maithripala Sirisena is moving to fulfill electoral promises to check corruption and repatriate money allegedly siphoned off abroad by Mahinda Rajapaksa, who ruled Sri Lanka for a decade, and members of his family, government sources told ET.

The new Lankan regime has informally approached the Narendra Modi government to assist in setting up the body, sources said, adding that a formal proposal could be expected soon.

The finance ministry will share its best practices with Colombo to set up the unit, which could be modelled after the Indian body, the sources indicated.

"We could help close neighbour Sri Lanka with capacity building exercise regarding FIU," said an official familiar with the process.

India set up the FIU in November 2004 as a national agency to receive, process, analyse and disseminate information related to suspect financial transactions. It coordinates and strengthens efforts of national and international intelligence, investigation and enforcement agencies in pursuing global efforts against money laundering and related crimes, reporting directly to the finance minister. Last November, FIUIndia and its Australian counterpart decided to jointly crack down on international financial crimes.

India could also consider a formal proposal from Colombo seeking the Reserve Bank of India's expertise in tracing money allegedly hoarded in tax havens. The Sirisena government has also sought help from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in locating this hidden wealth to expose the alleged corruption of the previous regime. The Sri Lankan government does not possess this expertise, according to Health Minister and cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne.

Relations between New Delhi and Colombo have picked up pace less than a month after the change of guard in the island nation.

After the visit of Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera last month, his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj is scheduled to visit Colombo this month. The new President has chosen New Delhi as his first destination abroad and will be here in February. This will be followed by Modi's trip to Colombo in March - the first by an Indian PM on a stand-alone bilateral visit in 26 years.

Sirisena, who handed Rajapaksa a surprise defeat in the January 8 polls, has alleged that the former President and his immediate family had siphoned $5.38 billion from public coffers. Sources from Colombo told ET that high-level corruption was one the key reasons for Rajapaksa's rout. Several members of his family held ministerial positions or controlled state-run corporations.

Sri Lanka's economy expanded 7.3% to $67.1 billion in 2013, according to data on the World Bank website.

The new government has started reforming various government institutions, including regulators allegedly made defunct by the previous regime. Lanka's anti-corruption body has issued overseas travel bans on former central bank governor Nivard Cabraal and Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, a key Rajapaksa assistant, pending a corruption investigation.

Led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, the new Cabinet has appointed a high-powered "rapid response team" to look into corrupt land transactions, stock market price-fixing and the abuse of state funds for political purposes. According to Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka, a preliminary study by a local university showed the cost of new road construction in Sri Lanka in 2013 had been inflated by $1.53 billion. Rajapaksa was the minister in charge of highways, finance and ports. The government will review mega projects awarded to Chinese companies, including a $1.4-billion port city near Colombo harbour.(The Economic Times)

See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/62787/india-t ... bLz5n.dpuf

The Chinese are also wasting no time and are to send a special envoy to Colombo to do damage control after their "waiter" Rajapakse was to their surprise blown away in the elections. There are allegations that the Rajapakse familia have stashed a major portion of their loot using their Chinese connections,rather than in the west scared of western countries seizing their ill-gotten gains. The former pres' brother Basil fled with his wife to the US where he has resident rights. The GOSL should petition the US govt. to mount an inquiry into his assets in the US and deport him if need be.Rajapakse is also alleged to have laid his hands on LTTE gold using the former LTTE bigwig,KP for the same.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 06 Feb 2015 04:24

Sri Lanka approves Chinese port project

COLOMBO – Sri Lanka's new government on Thursday gave the green light for China's $1.4-billion port project in the capital despite warning while in opposition that it would scrap the controversial venture.Government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said that the cabinet had approved the Colombo Port City project, under construction alongside an existing giant Chinese-built container terminal, in what is the island nation's largest single foreign investment. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe vowed during last month's election to halt the project, branding it “haphazard” and damaging to the island's west coast where legions of tourist hotels are located.“We have now found that the port city project had done an environment impact assessment and that says there is no harm (to the environment),” said Senaratne who is also the health minister. Launched under the last government during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Sri Lanka in September, the project aims to give Beijing a firmer foothold in the Indian Ocean region.
The project had also been a symbol of previous strongman Mahinda Rajapakse's heavy reliance on Chinese funding for infrastructure work in the island nation. Beijing has been accused of seeking to develop facilities around the Indian Ocean in a “string of pearls” strategy to counter the rise of its Asian rival India and secure its own economic interests. Senaratne said that Sirisena will visit Beijing in March after India Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Sri Lanka a few days earlier.Sirisena is also due to travel to New Delhi on February 16 for a brief official visit that includes talks with Modi. China's huge investments in Sri Lanka and other South Asian nations in India's neighbourhood have caused unease in New Delhi. Indian diplomats have privately raised concerns about the port city venture, as it gives China ownership of one third of the total 233 hectares (583 acres) of reclaimed land.

Tuvaluan · Post by **Tuvaluan** » 06 Feb 2015 04:55

Sirisena seems to be cut from the same cloth as Rajapakse -- allowing the Chinese port facilities for military use is simply not acceptable for India.

member_23370 · Post by **member_23370** » 06 Feb 2015 05:07

Instead of bitching IN should ask for basing rights in vietnam.

Tuvaluan · Post by **Tuvaluan** » 06 Feb 2015 06:34

Bheeshma wrote:Instead of bitching IN should ask for basing rights in vietnam.

GoI has done that already if you paid attention India's moves in vietnam, but that is not the issue here.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 06 Feb 2015 12:15

Unless this issue is sorted out amicably and poses NO danger to India's security interests,Indo-Lankan relastions will take a severe nosedive.

[/googlevideo]
Cabinet has decided to proceed with Colombo Port City Project. Cabinet Spokesman Minister Rajitha Senaratne said President Maithripala Sirisena would discuss several matters connected with the project during his visit to China in March. - See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/62983/govt-to ... K8XtV.dpuf

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 06 Feb 2015 12:22

Tuvaluan wrote:Sirisena seems to be cut from the same cloth as Rajapakse -- allowing the Chinese port facilities for military use is simply not acceptable for India.

Guys,

I told you so. sinhalese are all cut from the same cloth, made in the same cloth mill and have the very same anti India constituency to service.

I am not happy to be right in this case but the chinese do speak softly and carry a very very big stick.

Just watch the chinese claw their way back with even more iron clad contracts, now that they have learned their lesson well.

They have exclusively reserved multiple berths in the harbor for three, four decades as per the news

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 06 Feb 2015 12:32

True,they've probably caught the GOSL by the economic "ghoolies",but there are many ways in which the Lankan "lion" can be skinned by India and the dragon's fire doused in the IOR and the island. The GOSL must read the writing on the wall very,very,carefully.BY kowtowing and prostituting themselves to the Chinese they run the risk of turning the island into another Ukraine in the future. One sincerely hopes that the far more amenable govt. of the day will review its about-turn which appears to have been made in extreme haste,even before the new pres' visit to India.This announcement will definitely sour the taste of the visit.

Always remember that China is thousands of Kms away while India is just a few minutes away. One doesn't have to speculate further.There are many ways in which the Lankan "lion" can be "skinned,stiffed and mounted" by India.

Meanwhile some insight into the politics of the SLFP over the last decade,and how the dramatic victory of Sirisena was achieved.

EDITORIAL : CBK BREAKS SILENCE WITH A BANG

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, who is reported to have played a major role in paving the way for the common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena to come forward and topple the Rajapaksa regime, made some bombshell disclosures this week about what happened in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) during the past 35 years.

In a 75-minute television interview, Ms. Kumaratunga said she could not and dared not disclose what she was revealing now because both the interviewer and she might have faced death after a notorious white van abduction.

One of the main disclosures was that in early 2005 when the SLFP Central Committee met to decide on a candidate for the presidential election, as many as 57 of the 61 members had opposed the nomination of Mahinda Rajapaksa. However, since there was no suitable alternative at that time, she decided to nominate Mr. Rajapaksa though even at that time she saw some leadership potential in minister and SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena and told him to build up those leadership qualities.

After a campaign during which there were major disputes between Ms. Kumaratunga and Mr. Rajapaksa, he eventually won the election on November 18. Ms. Kumaratunga claimed that when she called the new President to congratulate him on November 19 he screamed at her in bad language for 19 minutes. She said she just listened to what he was saying but timed it and said only one word in response, though she did not mention what the word was. Ms. Kumaratunga said that in 1981 when the then President J. R. Jayewardene stripped her mother Sirimavo Bandaranaike of her civic rights, a rebel group in the party sought her removal from the post of party president also. This rebel group included Maithripala Senanayake, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Anura Bandaranaike. Ms. Kumaratunga said she and her husband Vijeya Kumaratunga along with other party stalwarts fought back to keep Sirimavo Bandaranaike in the party and she contested the 1989 presidential election.

Another conspiracy not widely disclosed before, came after Ranil Wickremesinghe became the Prime Minister in December 2001 while Ms. Kumaratunga was the President. She charged that Mr. Rajapaksa had secretly negotiated with Mr. Wickremesinghe to get about 30 SLFP MPs to support an impeachment motion against Ms. Kumaratunga. She said she was aware of what was happening and found that only five SLFP MPs were ready to support the impeachment. The move was dropped at that point. Disclosing the secret details of what happened during the past few years, Ms. Kumaratunga said rumblings among senior SLFP members started after 2010 when the Rajapaksa family took control of the government and the party. Many SLFP seniors had negotiated with her secretly and urged her to lead a rebel group but she did not wish to enter politics directly because of the breakdown of the rule of law, the politicisation of the judiciary and the police and the mega corruption deals amounting to millions of dollars.

The scenario changed early last year when the Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Nayake Thera, as leader of the National Movement for Social Justice, came forward to initiate a common opposition front to topple the Rajapaksa regime. Ms. Kumaratunga said it was at this point that she approached Maithripala Sirisena to come forward as the common opposition candidate. At first he was reluctant or afraid because as Mr. Sirisena later said he was taking a big risk that could mean death for him and the family if he failed. However the Rajapaksa domination was getting so unbearably bad that on November 6, Mr. Sirisena agreed to quit the government and cross over. From that point super-secret talks were held with the then UNP Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and other opposition party leaders. Thus when Mr. Sirisena eventually announced on November 21 that he was crossing over with a few other ministers, it took the Rajapaksa regime by complete surprise and even the State Intelligence Services’ chief was removed for not being aware of what happened.

Eventually Mr. Sirisena went on to win the election and change the history of Sri Lanka with an all-party National Unity Government which is being widely seen as a model or miracle of Asia.
- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/62997/editori ... TeIcW.dpuf

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 06 Feb 2015 18:42

Philip saar,

Always remember that China is thousands of Kms away while India is just a few minutes away. One doesn't have to speculate further.There are many ways in which the Lankan "lion" can be "skinned,stiffed and mounted" by India.

Culturally, as a civilization, we have always been soft. we don't wield power in the conventional sense, like the chinese or the russians do but always attempt to make friends with unfriendly people, much to our detriment, most of the time.

SL will become like the maldives -- a chinese client state with a "protector" in India for all the silly stuff that the chinese will not do for them.

When the maldives had a water crisis, they called out to India which immediately flew out tons and tons of packaged drinking water to them by IL76, Galaxy and what not, also sending many ships with drinking water etc. We went running like servants and helped them out. The chinese leisurely strolled in much later, gave them a few bottles of water and the maldives is now ready to kick India in the teeth once again.

We don't know how to wield power. look at the mess we made in nepal.

So in the case of any crisis in SL, once again we will rush in, uninvited as usual and very eager to "help" out. The chinese will stroll in a little later after we have cleaned up, spending our money, and the lankans will suck up to them once again.

We spent thousands of crores helping out SL during the tsunami. Did it change a damned thing on the ground?? They still went ahead and signed with the chinese. They are not even grateful to us for it. Did they mention the tamils even once in all this?? I didn't hear anything.

The wily lankans have learned to use us like a condom. Open the packet when needed, use and throw. Rinse and repeat.

we must learn to do what the chinese do. Be ruthless and always put the country first. Power must be exercised for it to bear fruit.

For a start, to indicate unhappiness, drastically reduce srilankan airlines flights to India, tighten visa norms to visit India, tax lankan imports and jack up prices of Indian goods sold to them. Accept no high level SL trade, cultural or other delegations except to meet some utterly disinterested, disheveled clerk in dilli.

downgrade NaMo's forthcoming visit and send ram vilas paswan instead.

Just ignore them completely for some time

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 07 Feb 2015 22:54

Someone has jumped the gun. Ranil W,the PM has denied that the project is going ahead,saying that ALL Chinese projects are being reviewed becos of kickbacks,etc. The quick denial by the PM who campaigned against the PC project is reassuring.However,one must wait and watch to see what pressure the PRC puts on the GOSL,which will want India to assist it in large measure if the PC project is to be dumped or modified.

One way in which India can short circuit it is to take it over financially,so that SL can return the money spent so far on the reclamation. However,one estimate by someone who has studied the project says that the estimate for reclamation by the Chinese company involved was grossly inflated obviously to provide the necessary kickbacks.

KrishnaK · Post by **KrishnaK** » 08 Feb 2015 02:34

Does Sri Lanka have to accept Chinese funding to build ports to provide basing facilities to the Chinese Navy ? Does accepting Chinese $$ to build their infrastructure (especially when we don't have any to substitute) mean they have to provide China with bases ? All the whining and wailing about our civilizational efficacy is childish.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 08 Feb 2015 03:25

Philip, When is Modi expected to visit Sri Lanka?

Shankk · Post by **Shankk** » 08 Feb 2015 05:56

Lets not forget that this decision was made only after Sushma Swaraj and Jaishankar came back from China. I would wager that India is okay with this having clarified doubts.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 08 Feb 2015 10:26

KrishnaK wrote:Does Sri Lanka have to accept Chinese funding to build ports to provide basing facilities to the Chinese Navy ? Does accepting Chinese $$ to build their infrastructure (especially when we don't have any to substitute) mean they have to provide China with bases ? All the whining and wailing about our civilizational efficacy is childish.

SL has been neglected by everybody and at the same time targeted by international vested interests much to the detriment of the lankans.

If at long last, they have got big bucks flowing in, for whatever reason, why would they say no??

If two countries are suddenly vying for their attention, they are certainly going to make the best of it.

The chinese are in SL because it suits the chinese. The lankans are not the focus in the calculations of the chinese.

The Indians want in because they want to protect the Indian interests.

Don't see SL per se figuring prominently anywhere in both calculations except may be as an after thought. Sorry to sound cynical.

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 08 Feb 2015 19:35

Crack appears as Government’s U-turn on China’s $1.4 billion port project while Ranil still insists on No Nod Yet to China-funded Project

An Apparent policy conflict has appeared yesterday between Priminister Ranil Wickremasinghe’s UNP fraction of the government and President Sirisena’s faction when the cabinet backed China’s $1.4 billion proposal after favourable environmental report

Sri Lanka’s new government has approved China’s $1.4 billion port project in the island nation’s capital, marking a swift U-turn following warnings it might scrap the venture.

Sri Lankan government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said on Thursday the Cabinet approved the Colombo Port City project following a favorable environmental impact assessment.

Contradicting cabinet spokesman Dr Rajitha Senaratne, the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament here on Friday, that the controversial US$ 1.4 billion Chinese-funded Colombo Port City project had not been cleared, and that it is being reviewed and No Nod Yet given to China-funded Project.

There are many issues regarding the port city project. Therefore when this government came to power, I got down all the files relating to this project. When I inspected them, I found that all the required reports are not there. There is a deficiency in the EIA. Therefore, to inquire into this, we have appointed a separate committee. In addition to that, under my chairmanship we have appointed a cabinet subcommittee. After getting reports, we will take a decision. We will inquire and then take that committee’s report into consideration and take a decision. And at that stage we will inform this House,” Wickremesinghe said.

Wickremasinghe’s position is in support of Sri Lanka’s neighbour India who has raised concern about security threats posed by Chinese ownership of the freehold of 20 hectares of land next to the main commercial port in Colombo. India uses Colombo as a transshipment port.

Sri Lanka’s new prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said before last month’s presidential vote he would cancel the deal if his party came to power because no environmental impact assessment or feasibility study had been presented to parliament.

China’s Special Envoy and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Liu Jianchao, told the Lankan media here on Friday, that China is ready to submit all its projects for review, and that these projects will proceed further only upon getting clearance.

Meanwhile President Maithripala Sirisena while expressing hope that China would assist Sri Lanka in its development endeavors in the future too, invited Chinese government as well as private companies to increase investment in Sri Lanka, when the Chinese President’s Special Envoy and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Liu Jianchao called on the President yesterday (06).

Minister Jianchao who is currently on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka said China expected to further enhance the long –standing bilateral relations between the two countries and pledged his country’s continued assistance to Sri Lanka’s development.

The Chinese Minister extended China’s congratulations to President Sirisena on his election victory and said two main Chinese magazines have reported very positively about President Sirisena’s assumption of high office.

President Sirisena recalled with gratitude the assistance by China to Sri Lanka in the past especially commended the support given to Sri Lanka to eradicate terrorism from its soil.

During the discussion it was revealed that President Sirisena is scheduled to undertake a state visit to China in late March and during that visit many discussions will be held to further cement existing bilateral relations.

Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Mr. Wu Jianghao and several other high level officials accompanied Minister Jianchao during the discussion.

Senior Advisor on Foreign Relations to President Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala and Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ms. Chithrangani Wagiswara were also present.

Speaking to Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera in Colombo, China’s assistant foreign minister, Liu Jianchao, said the plan, and another port project in the south, were good for Sri Lanka.

(We) believe that the new Sri Lankan government will act upon the basic interests of Sino-Sri Lanka friendship and national development to ensure important cooperation projects do not experience ups and downs because of changes in the political situation,” China’s foreign ministry cited Liu as saying.

Chinese President Xi Jinping launched the project when he visited last year.

Under the proposed deal, 108 hectares of the site on reclaimed land would be taken over by China Communications Construction Co Ltd, including 20 hectares on an outright basis and the rest on a 99-year lease.

In a newspaper advertisement yesterday, Jiang Houliang, head of CHEC Colombo Port City (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of the state-owned Chinese investor, said his firm estimated 83,000 jobs and $13 billion of foreign direct investment would come from the project over 10 years.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 08 Feb 2015 20:07

I think that the visit and dates of our PM's visit to the island will be finalized after Pres.Sirisena visits Delhi. Probably sometime in March going by media info. The PM is also planning to visit China,since Sushma has laid the groundwork for the same following her visit.

In my estimation,there will be a 3-way accord on the Port City between the GOSL,India and China. However,there is strong opposition to it from the UNP and Ranil because of the huge Chinese kickbacks given to the Rajapakses.It is no secret that Rajapakse and his "familia" allegedly made billions from Chinese projects where he recd. huge kickbacks in $$$,on the scale of the Marcoses.The Port City has literally been a massive gift of land to the PRC,an enclave sitting on India's southern doorstep,and we all know that India was eventually conquered not from the north but from the south,by the British with heir superior maritime power.

It is maritime power in the IOR in particular that will determine the future of Asia-Pacific region this century. The dominant naval force will be able to "police" trade and energy supplies traversing its sea lanes.India under no circumstances cannot afford to have a foreign external power squatting in Sri Lanka.
What it should underline to the GOSL that only very limited port facilities can be given to any foreign naval power in its ports across the country.India shall have veto power over it,otherwise India will take whatever means it requires to protect its own security regardless of what the GOSL thinks. But to get the GOSL to agree upon this India must engage actively in the island's development,making generous grants of aid,long term loans,massive infrastructure assistance and a meshing of the Indian and Lankan economies.Sri Lanka would be very happy to have lakhs of Indian tourists visiting it,exporting its excellent food products to a "hungry" India,and encouraging pilgrim tourism both ways.Buddhists from Lanka to India and our pilgrims visiting the temples and historic spots of the Ramayana in return. There is enormous scope for the same.

Indian corporate giants like L&T,Tatas,Mahindras,etc. could find enormous scope if the GOI supports them in full measure. There is also enormous scope for Indo-Lankan defence ties,replacing Chinese mil eqpt. with Indian mil eqpt.Naval OPVs,helicopters,aircraft (Jags,Dorniers),tanks-we have heaps of T-72s,radars,etc. can be provided to the Lankan armed forces,which now can be downsized and equipped with more modern eqpt,leaving more in the Lankan kitty for eco development.

India should realize that it is better spending a few billions in Lanka and earning the goodwill and cooperation of the GOSL on Indian security concerns,where Indian companies will also benefit from the aid provided,than spending even more billions later on in beefinf up our defences against a well-entrenched Chinese military presence on the island!

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 08 Feb 2015 21:31

More Port City news from SL.

Colombo Port City caught in political waves

Despite a continuing storm and conflicting reports on the huge Chinese-funded Colombo Port City project, work on it was proceeding apace behind barbed wire barricades yesterday. Govt. spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said on Friday the Cabinet had decided to go ahead with this controversial project, but Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera

Columns

Rs. 172 billion Chinese Port City project still in stormy seas

By Our Political Editor
Mangala contradicts Senaratne, says Cabinet did not decide to go ahead with the huge controversial project
PM and FM tell China’s special envoy decision will be taken after comprehensive review
New Govt. cancels Rajapaksa’s order for a castle in the sky through national carrier, billions spent on luxury Russian helicopters for VIPs
, “Our Government has not taken a decision to go ahead with the Chinese-backed Colombo Port City Project. The news reports are completely wrong.” The assertions came after Liu told Samaraweera that China was thankful to the National Unity Government for deciding to go ahead with this multibillion dollar project.
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera did not mince his words when he met Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special envoy Liu Jianchao on Thursday. Casting diplomacy aside, he told China’s Assistant Foreign Minister

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera greets China's special envoy Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao in Colombo for discussions mainly on the controversial Colombo Port City and other Chinese funded projects.

Liu had quite clearly believed the official announcement made by the new Government’s cabinet spokesperson, Minister Rajitha Senaratne, on Thursday. Senaratne told a news conference the ministers had at their weekly meeting the previous day (Wednesday) “unanimously” decided on the matter. “The Prime Minister told us at the Cabinet meeting that this project should be carried out without any misunderstanding with the Chinese Government. Considering the relationship with China, we can make any alteration with the understanding of the Chinese Government,” he said. Senaratne declared that a Cabinet sub-committee had decided to go ahead with the project after examining the matter. Asked whether Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka was a member, he confirmed he was. Ranawaka has been a staunch critic of the project.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in a statement in Parliament, however, also made it clear there was no such decision as announced by Minister Senaratne. Excerpts from what he said: “…… when this Government came to power, I asked for all the documentation relating to this project. Once these documents were checked, we found all the necessary documentation was not there. There was a shortcoming in the environmental assessment report, too. We have appointed a special committee to look into this. In addition to that, a Cabinet subcommittee too has been appointed under my leadership. It is after these reports are ready (that) decisions will be taken. There was a suggestion by some environment groups to abandon this project completely. We did not do that……. We are not taking the stance that this project should be completely stopped.

“We will make a decision after taking a look at the reports and if it is necessary we can amend the Gazette notification. There are two matters. This is a massive project and has the sponsorship of the Chinese Government. We cannot abruptly stop such projects. At the same time it is important to safeguard the environment of this country. The environment cannot be harmed and at the same time rules and regulations must be followed. Once the committee report is ready, the subcommittee will take a look at it and a final decision will be made by the Cabinet. We did not take up the position that this agreement should be torn up but we are continuing our inquiry into it. I met the Chinese government’s special envoy today and I told him we have not got the full report yet but once we get it we will take a decision. It will take two weeks for the report to be ready….”

He made the statement after the issue was raised by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Samaraweera told the Sunday Times, “I was surprised over media reports that the project would go ahead since there was no such decision by the ministers.”

Senaratne seems to be outdoing his predecessor Keheliya Rambukwella with a gaffe almost every week. He once said that the then Chief Justice 44 Mohan Peiris had tendered his resignation. He had not. Days later Peiris was removed from office and the Government declared he never held office because the removal of the previous Chief Justice was void. Perhaps the diverse mix in the National Unity Government is leading to different statements from key players. There are instances where remarks made by ministers have been contradicted by their deputies or vice versa. Policy pronouncements, like the one from Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe on moves to re-introduce the death penalty, have sparked controversy. The reason he gave was mounting crime. The answer to the issue seems to lay elsewhere, with the Police Department. Its politicisation continues to be an obstacle to curb the deteriorating law and order situation. How executing people would arrest the situation is questionable. The abolition of the death penalty is a big issue in the West and the European Union has already issued a statement in opposition to Rajapakshe’s suggestion.

Samaraweera told China’s special envoy that all investments in Sri Lanka by Chinese companies were under revision. He said the Colombo Port City Project itself had been shrouded in mystery. When this unsolicited proposal was decided upon by ministers, the then Opposition asked the UPFA Government to table in Parliament all the documents related to the project. However, it had shied away from doing so, heightening suspicion. He said that in China, the Government of President Xi Jinping was spearheading a campaign against corruption. In that spirit, Samaraweera said, the new Government would expect Beijing’s fullest co-operation in the review of Chinese-funded projects in Sri Lanka so those involved in corruption and other malpractice could be brought to book. Samaraweera said the Government had won a mandate from the people to fight corruption after making a pledge in its 100-day programme of work.

Special envoy Liu is in Colombo to extend an invitation to President Maithripala Sirisena to visit China. Dates and other details of the visit are to be discussed when Foreign Minister Samaraweera travels to Beijing on a two-day visit beginning February 27. His planned visit and that of President Sirisena come barely two weeks after the duo visit New Delhi — a move described by Foreign Ministry officials as an important foreign policy initiative. “It reflects the Government’s objective of a neutral foreign policy with no leanings to any one country,” one of them said. Liu held a news conference in Colombo on Friday to respond to issues raised by Samaraweera though no direct reference was made.

Minister Senaratne’s remarks, however, did cause considerable confusion in the Colombo-based diplomatic community. Among the initial responses was one from Indian High Commission officials who were trying to determine the basis on which such a decision has been made by the Government. The cause for Indian concerns is the fact that the port city where China will own land given to it free when developed, adjoins the International Container Terminal (ICT) in the Colombo Port. With the appearance of Chinese submarines and warships at the ICT, concerns in New Delhi grew over the neighbouring land mass Beijing will accrue in one of the primary locations in the City of Colombo. That is an area next to where China’s submarines and warships on visits to Colombo were located. The Sunday Times learnt a discussion on the Colombo Port City Project took place at the Cabinet meeting after Kabir Hashim, Minister of Investment Promotion, Highways and Higher Education, presented a Cabinet Paper recommending a full review of the project.

The Sunday Times (Political Commentary) of January 19, 2014 first revealed exclusively details of the Colombo Port City Project. UPFA Ministers gave approval to this US$ 1,337 million (Rs. 172.4 billion) project. It is to reclaim more than 575 acres (233 hectares) of sea off Galle Face Green. The move followed an unsolicited project proposal from China Communications Co. Ltd. President Rajapaksa who is also Minister of Highways, Ports and Shipping told his ministers that the project “leads to create a new city to raise the image of the Port of Colombo as a leading hub city with regional and international connections.”

This project is costlier than the monies spent on the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (US $210 million), phase one of the Hambantota Port (US$ 361 million) and the Colomb-Katunayake expressway (US$ 350 million). It was to be carried out under the supervision of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the Board of Investment. A significant feature of the project is the granting of a portion of the land area on a 99-year lease to the Chinese firm which made the unsolicited proposal. The base price of the land is being estimated at US$ 24 million or more than three billion rupees.

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) was allocated 125 hectares including 62 hectares which is saleable from the land to be reclaimed. Strategic Development Project status was given to this new venture. The SLPA was exempted from licence fee, royalty fees and buyers of their land were to be exempt from the Property Transfer Tax (or Land Tax) and Stamp Duty. The Government is to transfer the reclaimed land to the SLPA as a “free gift.” The SLPA, ahead of approval by the Cabinet of Ministers, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese firm — a move which indicated the haste with which the project was to be carried out. This was after a Standing Cabinet Appointed Review Committee (SCARC) gave it instructions. How such instructions to override ministerial approval could be given by a committee remains a critical question when it should be the Ministers who should do so for a project involving a colossal sum.

The new Government’s review of the Colombo Port City Project will cover all aspects including how the unsolicited proposal originated, who were responsible, whether commissions were paid and whether all procedures laid down for mega projects were followed. This week, senior Government officials pointed out that land for development was available in the eastern sector of the Western Province with vast open areas devoid of buildings. Hence, they questioned the need to reclaim land from the sea at great cost for development activity.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 08 Feb 2015 21:41

http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2015/02/0 ... port-city/

Government Jumps The Gun On Colombo Port City

Meanwhile, the new government found itself in a position of embarrassment when Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne announced that the government had decided to proceed with the Colombo Port City project, run by a Chinese company. The ruling party, when it was in the opposition, said in no uncertain words that it would halt the project under a UNP government. That was exactly why the decision to proceed with the same project came as an embarrassment to the government.

However, the government decided to reevaluate the deal before agreeing to proceed with the Port City. During the reevaluation some interesting revelations were also made pertaining to the handling of the project.

Top government sources told The Sunday Leader that a plot of land within the Colombo Port City had been earmarked for a certain family that played a key role in Sri Lankan politics by China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC), the Chinese company which was handling the project.

According to the Colombo Port City deal proposed deal, 108 hectares would be given to the Chinese firm, including 20 hectares on an outright basis and the rest on a 99-year lease. The earmarked plot of land, according to top government sources, was within the 20 hectares which was given to the Chinese firm on an outright basis.

“Through the revaluation, we had to rectify the issues of the initial plan. You cannot hand over a plot of land to a foreign country on an outright basis,” a high profile spokesman who spoke to The Sunday Leader said on Thursday.

Colombo Port City issue brings embarrassment to new government

In addition to problems in the agreement, India had also raised concerns over the port city project saying it was a threat to the national security of India.

A Reuters reported two weeks ago said that Indian diplomats had raised concerns over the deal saying the the 20-hectare plot is a security concern because of the large number of India-bound cargoes that pass through Colombo port.

Construction of the Colombo Port City project was launched on 17 September 2014 by Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The project approximately reclaimed around 230 hectares and it was decided that the Port City would include roads, water, and electricity, communication facilities to set up shopping areas, water sports area, mini golf course, hotels, apartments, recreation areas and marinas. According to the initial plan, there was a move to include a new Formula One track, constructed in the vicinity of the Colombo Harbour. This drew heavy criticism from the United National Party which was then in the opposition, especially from the then Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

This reevaluation alone did not solve all the problems pertaining to the Colombo Port City. There are so many questions that the UNP and the government should answer with regard to their decision on Colombo Port City.

The Prime Minister, who was then the Opposition Leader, posed some solid questions to the government on commercial and economic benefits of the project, its environmental impact, absence of tender procedures and feasibility studies and several other issues. The government has still not stated whether the problems it pointed out earlier still exist.

When Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday that the government had decided to proceed with the project after a detailed revaluation he did not disclose whether some measures have been suggested to address the issues pointed out by the Prime Minister when he was in the opposition.

According to the Cabinet Spokesperson, the matter has been reconsidered in the context of the new government’s bilateral relations with China. Senaratne also said that the President would visit China in March and he would hold discussions with Chinese authorities on this deal. The visit will take place after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka which is also scheduled for March.

Therefore, it leaves ample space to speculate that the new government too has decided to move on with the controversial project without paying much attention to its negative impact.

The questions that Wickremesinghe raised in Parliament in February, last year, are as follows.

“What is the reason for launching such a project? Is it because the required lands cannot be found from the city of Colombo that the sea is filled for this project? What is the total amount spent for the construction of this city. How would that be found? Were the tenders and proposals called for such a huge project? If so, what are the dates and in which media they had been published? Or else, on what basis the investors and companies were selected for the purpose? On what basis was it decided that nearly half of the Colombo Port City be offered to a Chinese Company? What is the extent of land of this city that the government of Sri Lanka would keep in its possession after this construction? What is the authority with powers vested to carry out this project? What is the tax concessions offered, if any? Under what regulation had they been offered? What are the commercial and economic benefits the country would gain out of this project? Will there be hotels, cafeterias, or flats built in this city for the general public? If so, what are they? Will the cost preservation and environment be adversely affected by the sea filling made for this project? Have the reports been received from recognised institutions on the environmental impact and other matters pertaining to this project? Will he present all reports and letters pertaining to the above questions and the said project to parliament?”

Interestingly, the government which is technically being led by the same Wickremesinghe also remains tight-lipped on these questions. The real problem here is that the UNP, during its election campaign, jumped the gun without taking its repercussions into serious consideration.

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 11 Feb 2015 12:28

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/tamil-province-charges-colombo-with-genocide/article6879400.ece

ri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council (NPC) on Tuesday passed a strongly worded resolution accusing successive governments in the island nation of committing ‘genocide’ against Tamils.

The resolution moved by Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran sought to give “an overview of the evidence demonstrating successive Sri Lankan governments’ genocide against Tamils” and appealed to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to probe the claim and recommend appropriate prosecution.

The resolution does not seem to have gone down well among the Colombo leadership, given that it has been engaging extensively with different countries, hoping to mobilise international support ahead of the U.N. Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva.

Terming the resolution an “extremist position,” Health Minister and Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said President Maithripala Sirisena had promised to initiate an internationally approved, domestic inquiry process. “This is a period of reconciliation, and both sides should engage constructively, rejecting extremism,” he told The Hindu.

The 11-page document details different episodes of violence and oppression in Sri Lankan history — from the time of the country’s controversial Sinhala Only Act of 1956 — terming them “genocidal” acts targeting Tamils over the years, culminating in the brutal final phase of the war that, according to U.N. estimates, claimed 40,000 civilian lives.

While the NPC may be justified in raising concern over alleged war crimes, “they cannot call it genocide,” Mr. Senaratne said. “Choosing confrontational ways will hamper forward movement on the issue.”

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sri-lankas-northern-province-resolution-indian-officials-wary/article6879407.ece

The Indian government took note of the resolution by the Sri Lankan Northern Provincial Council internally, but officials said it was too early to gauge its importance to the reconciliation process already initiated by President Maithripala Sirisena’s new government. Officials are studying if the genocide resolution would affect the Geneva conference of the UNHRC, where the U.N. special rapporteur is due to submit a report on a U.S.-sponsored “war crimes investigations” that could also lead to a resolution against Sri Lanka being tabled. India would be keen to see any such resolution put off, it is understood, so as to allow the new Sri Lankan government time to implement its promises to the Northern provinces.

India not for war crimes probe against Sri Lanka

Any attempt to challenge the new government in Colombo with an international genocide investigation at this point could “complicate matters,” sources in New Delhi have said.

India has traditionally opposed any international investigation into war crimes in Sri Lanka, a position that led to India abstaining from the U.S.-backed resolution at the UNHRC in March 2014.

Sources told The Hindu that the issue of reconciliation and rehabilitation for the Tamil-dominated areas will be a key issue when President Sirisena meets with Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week. “The government will be keen to discuss the new government’s plans as well as the just-started talks on repatriation of 1 lakh Sri Lankan refugees living in India.”

In Delhi last month, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who met with Mr. Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, said that the Sirisena government would implement a “credible domestic mechanism” for reconciliation, but wouldn’t allow any international inquiry into allegatio

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 11 Feb 2015 12:31

Report from Hindu dated 15th Jan,2015
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/sri-lanka-fires-military-governor-in-northern-province/article6792261.ece

Sirisena govt appoints seasoned diplomat as Northern Province Governor

The Tamil-controlled provincial administration has long accused the outgoing Governor of preventing them from functioning freely and running a parallel local government.

Sri Lanka’s newly-formed government has appointed a prominent diplomat as Governor to the Tamil-majority Northern Province.

Sri Lanka’s former Foreign Secretary H.M.G.S. Palihakkara will soon take charge as Governor, replacing retired major general G.A.Chandrasiri, according to a statement published on the government's official portal.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had, for long, been appealing to the Sri Lankan government to replace Mr. Chandrasiri – who has a military background – with a civilian governor for the province.

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 12 Feb 2015 10:58

Report dated 31st January,2015
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lankan-president-appoints-tamil-as-chief-justice/article6842114.ece

Sri Lanka on Friday appointed Justice K Sripavan, an ethnic-Tamil, its new Chief Justice, days after his predecessor Mohan Peiris was asked to resign following an uproar in the parliament over allegations he tried to help the former president retain power illegally.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 13 Feb 2015 13:29

Port City "stopped"

Port City has been ‘stopped’: Govt

2015-02-13

The government said that the controversial Port City Project–Colombo has been ‘automatically stopped’ as there were many unanswerable questions on the project and many shortcomings in the Environment Impact Assessment Report as well as the feasibility study report.

Speaking to journalists at yesterday’s weekly cabinet news briefing, acting cabinet spokesman, Minister LakshmanKiriella said the government would re-visit and re-negotiate the project based on the mutual consent of both China and Sri Lanka.
“The Port City Project has been automatically stopped as there were so many shortcomings in the EIA report. We must go through it and rectify those shortcomings before re-start the project,” Minister Kiriella stressed.

Commenting on the next week’s official visit to India by President MaithripalaSirisena, Minister Kiriella said that both China and India were close friends and allies of Sri Lanka and had a mutual relationship with Sri Lanka. (Sandun A Jayasekera)

- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/63575/port-ci ... kltzX.dpuf

Shreeman · Post by **Shreeman** » 14 Feb 2015 11:37

Sri Lanka is pushing hard for tourism dollars. Like really hard. Anybody know the impact?

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 16 Feb 2015 03:50

Ranil W,the PM has now been made the only Lankan govt. min. to speak on the controversial Port City matters,after conflicting reports from govt. spokesmen.

The job is only half-finished.Routing the Rjapakse mafia in the parliamentary elections is going to be a challenge.He may try to do a "Kejiriwal" in April. However,without the support of govt. flunkeys and state machinery,plus an effective electoral; campaign team,it is going to be uphill for him.With the SLFP divided,the UNP and Ranil W are better placed to make the most in the coming elections.

http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2015/02/1 ... p-bigwigs/

MR Candidature Creates Ripples Among SLFP Bigwigs

Will former President Mahinda Rajapaksa make inroads into Parliament following the forthcoming Parliamentary election? This is the million dollar question at this juncture.

Almost all the non-SLFP coalition parties of the UPFA are on a feverish attempt to get former President Rajapaksa back on board as the Prime Ministerial Candidate of the UPFA. The non-SLFP coalition partners of the UPFA include National Freedom Front led by Wimal Weerawansa, Democratic Left Front led by Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna led by Dinesh Gunawardena and old Left parties led by DEW Gunasekera and Tissa Vitarana. In addition to that, Udaya Gammanpila, Leader of the newly formed Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, has also extended his support to the Bring Back MR initiative.

Dinesh Gunawardene, Wimal Weerawansa, Sarath Fonseka and Nimal Siripala

One common characteristic that can be seen in all Pro-Rajapaksa political parties is their intrinsic one man Army nature. For instance, one cannot imagine a National Freedom Front without Wimal Weerawansa and there will be no ‘Mahajana Eksath Peramuna’ without its leader Dinesh Gunawardena. In the same way, there is no other prominent politician in the pivithuru Hela Urumaya apart from Udaya Pabahath Gammanpila, who is now a Provincial Councilor in the Western Provincial Council.

In addition to non-SLFP coalition partners of the UPFA, several other SLFP Parliamentarians too are expected to align themselves with former President Rajapaksa. They are the ones who are die-hard supporters of the former President and those who find it difficult to survive in a non-Rajapaksa Sri Lanka Freedom Party. They, as individuals, will extend their support to the former President and join the political front supporting him.

Political observers state that those who back the former President at the moment actually want on to cash in on his popularity and win a Parliamentary seat at the next election. It is obvious that parties like Democratic Left Front, Lanka Sama Samaaja Party and the Communist Party of Sri Lanka are not in a position to contest alone and win a Parliamentary seat at the election. Even politicians like Udaya Gammanpila and Wimal Weerawansa managed to top preferential lists at recent elections as they contested under the UPFA ticket. In reality, they are yet to be tested as stand-alone entities in the country’s political sphere. For them to remain un-tested, they desperately need the support of the former President who still remains a popular figure among the Sri Lankan electorate, despite his surprise defeat at the recently held presidential election.

The former President has still not made a public statement as to whether he intends to contest the forthcoming presidential election. However, a politician who is involved in this initiative told The Sunday Leader that the former President, who lost the last presidential election with a margin of nearly 400 000 votes, is seriously considering a comeback!

Former President Rajapaksa’s General Election plans

Rajapaksa’s actual strength in the present Parliament can be assessed by analysing the names of the MPs who abstained from voting during the second reading vote of the interim budget of the new government. Several opposition MPs such as Wimal Weerawansa, DEW Gunadekara, Dinesh Gunawardene, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Tissa Vitarana, Sriyani Wijewickrama, Geethanjana Gunawardene, C Gajadheera, YG Padmasiri and Weerakunara Dissanayake also abstain from voting during the second reading vote. Meanwhile, some pro-Rajapaksa MPs, who adhered to the collective decision of the party, voted in favour of the budget, despite the issues they had with the new government. Among them was Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa who openly said that he voted in favour of the budget with reluctance.

It is now in the grapevine that the former President will not contest the forthcoming General Election from the district of Hambanthota which is the traditional stronghold of the Rajapaksas. Some speculate that he is planning to contest from the Kolonna electorate, in the Rathnapura district, an area where the former President Rajapaksa holds a certain edge over his political opponents.

From a political perspective, it does not make sense for the former President to contest from his hometown Hambanthota as his elder son too is a Parliamentarian of the same district. Therefore, in all likelihood, Namal Rajapaksa will contest from the district of Hambanthota, enabling the former President to contest from another district. Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, the other Rajapaksa representing the district of Hambanthota, is likely to retire from active politics with the dissolution of the present Parliament and his son Shashindra, former Chief Minister of the Uva Province, represents the district of Moneragala.

Former President Rajapaksa’s link to the Kolonna electorate is worth investigating. Some, who investigate the history of the Rajapaksa family of Medamulana, point out that the great grandfather of the former President came to Hambanthota from Emblipitiya, an area that is adjacent to Kolonna. On the other hand, as a young lawyer in the late 70s, Mahinda Rajapaksa started practicing at the Embilipitiya court. Therefore, even if he decides to contest from Kolonna, the former President will not go there as an alien candidate.

MR to contest under MEP?

There are speculations that Rajapaksa will contest under the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna with the symbol wheel. Presently, the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna is led by former Minister Dinesh Gunawardena who has now become a diehard supporter of the former President. The MEP, which was formed by the late Philip Gunawardena in the 1950s, was the party which formed a government in 1956, under the leadership of the late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. Meanwhile, there are some who say that the former President will contest the forthcoming election under the symbol flag.

When the former President visited the Welikada prison, a few days ago, to see his former colleague Parliamentarian Tissa Attanayake, journalists asked whether he intended to contest the upcoming General Election.

“No one invited me to contest. I don’t even know about a development of that nature. I just came from the village. I don’t know anything,” Rajapaksa said. At that point, the journalists who surrounded the former President said a press conference had already been organised by the group who were supporting him. In response, Rajapaksa said he was not aware of any such moves and asked the journalists about the press conference. It became clear that the former President, who was defeated by Maithripala Sirisena at the presidential election, has still not forgotten his old PR tactics.

One of the major issues the former President will face at the forthcoming Parliamentary election is the absence of a strong party machinery to run the election campaign. The MEP, has not contested an island wide election for many decades and therefore it does not have a robust party mechanism that will pave the way for a solid election campaign. In context of a general election, the strength of the party machinery will certainly be more important than the individual popularity of the party leader. The best example is the result obtained by former Army Commander who contested the General Election in 2010, just three months after the presidential election where he received over four million votes. Fonseka, who coalesced with the JVP at the subsequent General Election managed to secure only 6 seats. Fonseka’s party obtained 3 seats while its coalition partner Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna received 3 seats. The underlying issue behind Fonseka’s Parliamentary election campaign in 2010 was the absence of a strong party mechanism to conduct a robust election campaign.

No robust party machinery to conduct MR’s election campaign

On the other hand, there is a serious issue about the popularity of the individuals who support former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The individual popularity of Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila, needless to say, went downhill due to their conduct at the recently held presidential election. Seniors of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party openly claimed that the likes of Wimal Weerawansa were responsible for the former President’s election defeat and it is almost impossible to believe that Weerawansa- Gammanpila duo will be able to draw the support of traditional SLFP votes. Tissa Vitarana, DEW Gunasekera and Vasudewa Nanayakkara are already in the twilight of their political careers and it is naïve to believe that they will make a significant contribution to Rajapaksa’s campaign in terms of votes. On the other hand, Parliamentarians such as Duminda Silva, Rohitha Abeygunawardena and mahindananda Aluthgamage are already facing bribery and corruption allegations.

Be that as it may, Rajapaksa is still strong and popular. If he contests the General Election, he will certainly secure at least 20 seats from across the country and that will position him as an alternative force in the country’s politics. But, it is still too early to say whether the former president will secure enough seats to be the Opposition Leader in new Parliament and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena, may become stakeholders of a national government.

What is certain at the moment is that Rajapaksa’s candidature at the next Parliamentary Election will create a strong division in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

However, a propaganda campaign has already been launched by the Pro-Rajapaksa group calling upon those 5.8 million voters who voted for Mahinda Rajapaksa to come to Nugegoda on the evening of February 18. The meeting has been organised by the politicians who have already extended their support to the former President.

Nimal Siripala attacks MR supporters

This initiative came under criticism from Leader of the Opposition Nimal Siripala de Silva who is leading the Parliamentary group of the party. De Silva fired a salvo at the group saying that the 5.8 million votes obtained by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa were not his personal votes, but the votes of the party.

“First of all I must say that the 5.8 million voters cast their votes in favour of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. These are not his personal votes. Any member of the SLFP contesting has a wide vote base. It is not a personal vote. It is true that the former President Rajapaksa had charisma, apart from being a brave and proud personality. He will always be in the hearts and minds of the people, but that is only one aspect. That does not mean that the SLFP and other parties in the UPFA have lost their vote base. Therefore, I think (may be with good intentions) some parties are trying to bring him back as the Prime Ministerial candidate,” the Opposition Leader said on Friday in an interview with a state run newspaper.

“But, I am of the assurance given by the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa that he would never split the SLFP because he is a product of the SLFP. His father and S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike crossed over together and formed the SLFP. So therefore I do not think the former President will act in a manner that divides the SLFP and stifles its victory at the next General Election,” he also added.

In another interesting statement, the Opposition Leader also stated that his loyalty towards the party has not been duly rewarded.

“I am a very senior SLFPer like the current President Maithripala Sirisena or any other senior member of the party. But, I never betrayed my party, the SLFP. I always stood by the party and I never left it. But, I feel that my loyalty and dedication towards the party has not been recognised and that’s my perception,” he added. One has every reason to believe that the Opposition Leader, by making this statement, indicated that he should be the Prime Ministerial Candidate of the party at the next parliamentary election. He in other words meant that he would stand in the way of any attempt that makes the former President the Prime Ministerial Candidate of the party.

Some seniors of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party are less keen on the re-entry of former President Rajapaksa to Parliament. These sentiments were clearly reflected in a recent statement made by Prasanna Ranatunga, Chief Minister of the Western Province. He said a fresh face should be the Prime Ministerial Candidate of the party as the former President Rajapaksa and former President Bandaranaike have already held top position in the country’s politics. Although he did not make any harsh remark targeting the former President, Ranatunga clearly indicated that Rajapaksa should sit back at this juncture.

It did not require a lot of wisdom to understand that the Chief Minister was promoting the PM candidature of Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 16 Feb 2015 10:13

China's CCTV was showing the arrival of SL President in India and his plan to visit Bodh Gaya and Tirupati after having discussion with Indian PM Modi.

sooraj · Post by **sooraj** » 16 Feb 2015 17:33

India, Lanka ink civil nuclear pact, agree to expand defence ties
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/modi- ... 150216.htm

Taking the ties to a new level, India and Sri Lanka on Monday inked a civil nuclear pact besides deciding to expand defence and security cooperation.

This was announced after the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena during which both the leaders expressed commitment to find a solution to the emotive fishermen issue by adopting a constructive and humanitarian approach.

“The bilateral agreement on civil nuclear cooperation is yet another demonstration of our mutual trust. This is the first such agreement Sri Lanka has signed. It opens new avenues for cooperation, including in areas like agriculture and healthcare,” Modi said in a joint press interaction with Sirisena.

Sirisena, who arrived in Delhi on Sunday, has chosen India for his first foreign trip after assuming charge of the country. He had dethroned Mahinda Rajapaksa from his 10-year rule after a bitter presidential poll.

The nuclear pact would facilitate cooperation in the transfer and exchange of knowledge and expertise, sharing of resources, capacity building and training of personnel in peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including use of radioisotopes, nuclear safety, radiation safety and nuclear security.

It would also facilitate cooperation in radioactive waste bmanagement and nuclear and radiological disaster mitigation and environmental protection.

The two countries also signed three other pacts, including cooperation in the field of agriculture. Another MoU was signed to enable Sri Lanka to participate in the Nalanda University Project.

The PM said he and the Sri Lankan leader also agreed to expand the defence and security cooperation. “We welcomed the progress in our maritime security cooperation, including in the trilateral format with the Maldives,” he said.

Modi said he believed that destinies of both the countries are “inter-linked” and that “our security and prosperity are indivisible”.

Modi said they had “excellent discussions” on bilateral relations and international issues and added that India was honoured that Sirisena had chosen the country for his first overseas destination after assuming charge.

On the fishermen issue, Modi said he and the president attached the “highest importance” to it.

“It affects livelihoods on both sides. We agreed that there must be a constructive and humanitarian approach to the issue. We will encourage the fishermen’s associations on both sides to meet again soon. They should find a solution that can be taken forward by both governments," he said.

The Sri Lankan president expressed happiness over the outcome of the talks and said the friendship between the two countries was not only important to each other but was significant for the region as well.

“I really appreciate Prime Minister Modi’s efforts (to improve ties). Relations between the two countries will be strengthened further,” he said.

Modi also thanked Sirisena for inviting him to visit Sri Lanka and said he was “eagerly looking forward to visiting the country in March”.

“We are at a moment of an unprecedented opportunity to take our bilateral relations to a new level. His visit today has set us firmly in that direction,” the PM said while congratulating Sirisena for his historic victory in the recent elections in the island nation.

On the fishermen issue, Modi said fishermen’s associations on both sides will be encouraged to meet again soon while noting that that they should find a solution that can be taken forward by both governments.

Modi said India was Sri Lanka’s closest neighbour and friend and the goodwill and support of the people of India will always be with it.

“We also share a broad range of interests – economic development for our countries; peace and prosperity in South Asia; maritime security in the region,” he said.

On the economic engagement, Modi said both the countries are committed to “unlock” the vast potential of the economic cooperation.

“We are pleased to be Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner. I know that India enjoys a huge trade surplus. I expressed my support for a more balanced growth in trade in both directions,” he said.

The PM said he had conveyed to Sirisena India’s readiness to promote greater flow of Indian investments and tourists into Sri Lanka. “We also intend to further improve air and sea connectivity between India and Sri Lanka,” he said.

Modi said they discussed expansion of cooperation in energy sector, both conventional and renewable, and that commerce secretaries of both the countries will meet soon to review trade ties.

Talking about the Indian assisted projects for internally-displaced persons in Sri Lanka, Modi said they have made excellent progress. “This includes the housing project, under which more than 27,000 houses have already been constructed. The President and

I expressed satisfaction with the progress. I assured President Sirisena of India's commitment to its development partnership with Sri Lanka. This will continue to cover a broad range of areas, including infrastructure,” he said.

Referring to a pact on cultural cooperation, Modi said that like cricket, culture provides a strong bond between the two countries.

“Sri Lankan nationals visit the National Museum in New Delhi in large numbers to pay homage to the Kapilavastu relics. We have decided to reduce the fees for them,” he said

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 17 Feb 2015 02:42

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... cmpid=yhoo

Interlinked Destinies
Modi on Monday said that India and Sri Lanka would also expand defense and security ties. The nations have shared interests in maritime security in the region, he said.“India is Sri Lanka’s closest neighbor and friend,” Modi said. “I believe that our destinies are interlinked. Our security and prosperity are indivisible.”Chinese submarines docked twice in Colombo last year, triggering protests from India. The visits were for “replenishment purposes,” and Sri Lanka wouldn’t act against India’s security interests, V.K. Singh, deputy minister for external affairs, said in a written response to India’s parliament in November.China has invested heavily in Sri Lanka infrastructure projects and supported Rajapaksa in the face of U.S.-led inquiries into human rights abuses allegedly committed during the end of a 26-year civil war.“Sri Lanka certainly wouldn’t be foolish enough to kick China out –- not when billions of dollars of investment go with it –- but will likely loosen its embrace,” Romita Das, an analyst at Control Risks in Singapore, said in an e-mail before today’s announcement. “The nature of the rebalancing as it unfolds will also have significant implications on China’s efforts to project its power in the Indian Ocean Region.”

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 17 Feb 2015 06:24

ramana wrote:Philip, When is Modi expected to visit Sri Lanka?

March onlee.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 17 Feb 2015 06:27

uddu · Post by **uddu** » 17 Feb 2015 10:36

Ceremonial reception at Rashtrapathi Bhavan given to the visiting Sri Lankan President

India Sri Lanka Civil nuclear agreement signed.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 17 Feb 2015 11:09

A new treaty of peace with India

India is the only country in the world which has a permanent interest in Sri Lanka because of our situation and also because our relations extend over a period of two thousand years or more. It is therefore most appropriate that our new President’s first overseas visit should be to India.

India’s record in their relations with us in the post independence era has had many “ups and downs”, it is indeed time we revisited the issue once again. We have no over-expectations of India. It would not be impertinent to state that we understand that India has a policy that determines her relations with her neighbours which takes full account of her own security; our security, unity and territorial integrity is of foremost concern to us at this time, in this regard we are reminded of the words of both former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral and former Indian Defence Minister Fernandes who stated that “the unity of India and Sri Lanka are the same; the security, unity and territorial integrity of the two countries is indivisible we are twins”

Yes, President Sirisena’s first official visit to a foreign country is appropriately to India, as stated earlier our relations with India stretch back to two thousand years, our relationship is in fact a blood relationship.

Since our countries received Independence from Britain it has had its ups and downs, perhaps the worst period was when Indira Gandhi, who was very supportive of Sri Lanka during Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s time as PM turned against us after JR became President for she thought that we were moving close to the US (how much our world has changed today) and she armed and trained Tamil militants (please read Shekar Gupta’s report on the training camps in India in the India Today magazine of March 1984; if anyone has any doubts about this) and let loose a horrible terrorist insurrection which lasted three decades. India even permitted the LTTE to receive no less than 28 shiploads of arms to enable them to continue their war against this country. India dictated policy in 1987 made us stop the Vadamaarachi operation and forced us into entering into the Indo-Lanka Accord and had us subsequently adopt the 13th Amendment to our Constitution to find a solution to the Tamil ethnic problem. That problem yet remains with us and India, because of the centre having to appease Tamil Nadu, continues to be more than a player in what is our internal problem which is our responsibility to resolve in our own interest..

We who have followed India’s recent record in their relations with us have no over-expectations of India. As stated earlier we only hope that India has a policy that determines her relations with her neighbours which respects our independence and takes full account of our security, unity and territorial integrity which are of foremost concern to us. There is today a total acceptance that our destinies are as bound together as would be the destinies of Siamese twins. If harm comes to one the other would suffer too; India has to be India and Sri Lanka has to be Sri Lanka.

Relations between our two countries significantly improved after Mrs. Kumaratunge assumed office as President. In her own words “India is our immediate neighbour, with whom we have been inextricably linked by ties the origins of which have long been lost in the mist of time. We have with India the broadest and deepest interaction that we as a nation could have with another state. India therefore possesses the capacity, given her vastly disparate strength and influence, to help or hinder to a great extent. In a word the India factor is crucial to the existence of our nation. Forging and sustaining a mutually trusting and supportive friendship with India must therefore be for us, not just a conscious and soundly judged policy, it is a natural and vital ingredient for our national well being.”

President Chandrika Kumaratunge and the late Minister Kadirgamar reached out and mended fences and restored the relationship to what it almost was during the tenure of Mrs. Bandaranaike as Prime Minister; after that Ranil Wickremesinghe as leader of the Opposition and Milinda Moragoda cultivated close personal relations with the BJP leadership when they were in the opposition. They also cultivated senior politicians of the party assiduously. Subsequent to assuming office as Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe introduced a whole new vision to the relationship. He and Minister Milinda Moragoda were responsible for developing the relationship to unprecedented levels. There was indeed a quantum leap in Indo-Lanka relations. Let us put the relationship back to where it belongs and let us cement it with a new Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation which is comprehensive and covers political, economic and defence co-operation. I would suggest that India establish a regional naval training centre in Hambantota to make up for the fact that she turned down an offer to develop a harbour in Hambantota which was later developed by the Chinese.

The level of economic co-operation has in recent years reached unprecedented levels, we have moved towards a comprehensive partnership agreement covering Economic Co-operation, which has run into some difficulties but Indian investment in this country has tripled and there was at one time mention of an exclusive Export Processing Zone in Trincomalee for Indian investors. The Indian Oil Corporation a ‘Fortune Five Hundred’ company was to invest millions of dollars to develop the Oil Tank farm in Trincomalee. The Corporation has entered into the petroleum distribution business, taking over one hundred Service stations around the country. An IT park was also under consideration, let us make it a reality.

But whilst all this is indeed good, India, which seeks a permanent seat in the UN Security Council to safeguard international peace and security has to ensure peace and stability in its own backyard and to safeguard its own interests but not at our expense of course. There is yet another factor which was absent previously, which should augur well for securing a sustainable and just peace in this country, it is the new US-India axis. Today that relationship has become quite special to both parties for they have entered into a strategic relationship. The security of the Indian Ocean is vital to safeguard India’s national interest and it is also vital to the US because of her interests in the region. This augurs well for our country too. We must now call for a new treaty of Peace, Friendship and Co-operation between our two countries and dump the Indo-Lanka Agreement of 1987 which is not relevant any more.

In conclusion, since India maintains an abiding interest in the security of Sri Lanka and remains committed to our unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, we do hope that our President’s expectations will be fulfilled and our relationship put on a new and firm footing with a new Treaty of Peace Friendship and Co-operation which reflects the Gujral principles of non reciprocity. - See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/63869/a-new-t ... 13NGj.dpuf

SL and India agree to enhance defence ties 2015-02-16 - See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/63777/sl-and- ... wJTLb.dpuf

(Should be termed "majors general")
Major reshuffle in the Army 2015-02-16

Fifteen Major Generals and three Brigadiers of the Army have been transferred with immediate effect by Army Commander Daya Ratnayake.

Recently reinstated Major General Mahesh Senanayake has been appointed as the Military Secretary. Accordingly, several key appointments such as Security Forces Commander Jaffna, Eastern, Wanni and Central have been subjected to change. Some of the Major Generals who held key positions have been attached to the Army Headquarters.

Major Generals: Commandant of the Sri Lanka Volunteer Force (SLAVF) L. Daulagala appointed as Director General Projects-Army headquarters. JC Rambukpotha has been attached to the Army Headquarters, Commander-Security Forces HQ Eastern-Lal Perera attached to the Army HQ, Director General-General Staff (DGGS) Sumedha Perera appointed as Commander-Central, DGGS of the Office of Chief of Defence Staff P. Goonetilake appointed as Commandant of the Sri Lanka Volunteer Force (SLAVF), Commander of the Central Mano Perera appointed as the Director General Sports-Army headquarters, Commander of the Security Forces HQ Wanni Boniface Perera appointed as the Director General-General Staff of the Office of the Chief of Defence (CDS), Master General Ordinance N. Udawatta appointed Security Forces Commander -Jaffna, K. Gunaratne appointed as the Master General Ordinance-Army HQ, Mahesh Senanayake appointed as Military Secretary, DSCSC J.Walgama appointed as Commander-Security Forces -Eastern, UA Perera appointed as DSCSC, Security Forces Commander-Jaffna J. Alwis attached to the Army HQ, Military Secretary A Karunasekera appointed as the Security Forces Commander-Wanni, Director General (Ops) A. Perera appointed as Director General-General Staff-Army HQ.

Brigadiers: Director General Projects-Army HQ, DS Weerasekera attached to the Army HQ, D.C. Keppetiwalana appointed as Director Operation-Army HQ and current Director Operations-Army HQ attached to the Army HQ.

- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/63809/major-r ... NdVes.dpuf

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat ... tle=119712
Modi: Security and prosperity of India, Sri Lanka indivisible’

‘Destinies of India and Sri Lanka inter-linked’
February 16, 2015, 12:00 pm
BY S VENKAT NARAYAN

member_24684 · Post by **member_24684** » 20 Feb 2015 19:14

Sri Lanka: Government Reconsiders Land Deal With China

Sri Lanka will again consider the transfer of 108 hectares of land to China under a $1.5 billion port city deal signed by Colombo’s previous government, Reuters reported Feb. 20. The deal had triggered concerns from India that China could use the land, next to Sri Lanka's main commercial port, for military purposes. India's navy is dominant in the Indian Ocean and can affect Sri Lanka’s access to the Straits of Malacca and to oil from the Persian Gulf.

Stratfor

vijaykarthik · Post by **vijaykarthik** » 24 Feb 2015 06:51

Slightly worrying that the fellas in SL first agreed to China getting into a deal. then Sirisena won on the plank of being neutral and Ranil said no china. Chinese diplomats meet them and then a min sends out a trial balloon saying the env impacts reports are fine and they will proceed only for another to mention that the env reports aren't even in place or some vague thing like that. No one knows what. And Sirisena rushed to India. I hope all is well on this end.

China getting a stranglehold on IOR through SL might not be a good palatable option at all. If that were to work out, we should be basing out of Taiwan, Vietnam and Philippines!