Is Sri Lanka giving into India’s expansionist ambition, perhaps without realising the role India is playing for the Agenda of the West ?
Posted on June 12th, 2010

By Charles.S.Perera

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ President Mahinda Rajapaksa has returned after a three dayƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  official visit to India, after which he has released a statement that his visit had strengthened traditional friendly relations between India and Sri Lanka.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  traditional friendly relations with Sri Lanka existed long timeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  agoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  when King Asoka was the ruler.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  After thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the Jawaharlal Nerhu Government had extended friendly relations with Bandaranaike Government as SWRD Bandaranaike was already a friend of his from his Oxford Days.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But things changed after Indra Gandhi became the Prime Minister of India.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Since thenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  India cultivatedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  expansionist intentions.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  1983 riots in Sri Lanka, which began with the assassination of 13 policemen in the north was manoeuvredƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  by the Indian RAW duringƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the periodƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Indra Gandhi was the Primer Minister.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  during her period in office that the RAW took over a group of Tamil youths from the North to train them as terrorists. Thereafter India , (as far as the public in Sri Lanka is aware) , directly supported the terrorists first by the 1987 parippu drop when the terrorists were on the verge of being eliminated, andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  getting the then President of Sri Lanka to sign an agreement to implement a 13th Amendment to the Sri Lanka Constitution.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Next India refused to provide transport to evacuate the Sri Lanka soldiers besieged in JaffnaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  by the terrorist forces.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Thereafter, India refused to sell arms and artillery, and forbade Sri Lanka to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ buy them from China or Russia. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India sold us an out mode radar system that could not detect even a fly, let alone a terrorist plane.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Perhaps it was to help the terrorists.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ThatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  was the traditional relation ship we had with India.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The President RajapakseƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s attempt to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ cultivate friendly relation ship with India, will only be ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ taken as ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a weakness, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India will profit from it to divide Sri Lanka in a different way.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We already see it happening in a ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ grand scale, with India offering ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ assistance for development project in the North and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ East, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ giving crores of Indian Rupees as aid, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ proposing at the same time direct discussions with ethnic groups in Sri Lanka , which would be a ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ real interference into internal affairs of Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  India also proposes opening an Indian High Commission Office in the North, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ partially recognising by India of the existence of a separate state in the North.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The President Mahinda Rajapakse won a war against the terrorists, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ but he is at the same timeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  allowing India to dominate over Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Wimal Weerawansa said in a debriefing session in a video that there are already Indian workers in the South working in paddy fields.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  They may very well be RAW recruits. It appears the President Mahinda Rajapakse is sure of himself , but he does not seem to be awre that India is discretely working ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for a partnership with the West for ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a global leadership.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Hillary Clinton the Secretary of State of the Obama Administration said recently in a statement that “IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s growing role in the global economy is accepted the way we accept the law of gravity.”, while ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the President Barrack Obama the President of USA said on his part,”ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦The relationship between the United States and India will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century”.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We know very well the intention of the West-that including USA, is to divide Sri Lanka so that its strategic importance in the Indian ocean is weakened, opening a means to establish an American Naval Presence in the North of a divided Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The West wants at any cost to displace the Chinese influence in Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Even if there is a strong presence of the Chinese in the South, the West can change the situation by having a greater presence and influence in the North and East.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  India is the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-cats pawƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in Asia for these Western projects.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ when President Mahinda Rajapakse, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who had wined and dined with the Indian head of State, its Prime Minister and the President of the Congress, thinks that his visit had strengthened traditional friendly relations between India and Sri Lanka, he may not have suspected that the West has ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ perhapsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  sent ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ messages of congratulations to Manmohan Singh for fooling the head of State of Sri Lanka , ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ without allowing any suspicion of IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s real motives for entertaining him in Style.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India has in store many other surprises for Mahinda Rajapakse who seems to be swallowing ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ all baits thrown at him ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by India.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The CEP that is proposed by India will make Sri Lanka a real colony of India, with India making proposals and Mahinda Rajapakse accepting them, and issuingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  statements of furtheringƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  good relations with India.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The other bait coming Mahinda RajapakseƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s way is the digging of Oil wells in the seas of Mannar.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The large scale construction of houses by India for the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ war affected people in the North and East will greatly strengthen the popularity and with it the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ influence of India on Sri Lankan Tamil Community.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mahinda Rajapakse our President who gives into all whims and fancies of India has received a delegation of Tamilnadu Politicians during his much publicised official visit to India.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He has even invited them to visit Sri Lanka to see for themselves the progress his government has made in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ resettlement and rehabilitation of the war affected people in the North.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  But apparently the Tamil Nadu delegation does not seem to have been impressed at all by Mr. Mahinda RajapakseƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  interview.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Indian media the Hindu hails the PresidentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mr.Mahinad RajapaksaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s visit and says ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦the Sri Lankan leader clearly wants to reformulate the bilateral relationship. That he is prepared to go the extra mile for this is evident from his agreement to an Indian consulate in the southern city of Hambantota where China is assisting in building a modern port, in addition to the already agreed diplomatic outpost in JaffnaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What ever the President Mahainda Rajapakse has in his mindƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  he should wary about IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s real intentions.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  India is already imposing itself on a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-naƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚¯veƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ President of Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  whose heart is too large to wary on IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s real intentions.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It may be too late when he awakens to underhand dealings of India that may set communities apart.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  India has no business to make any suggestionsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  on our constitutional changes that are being proposed.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What is necessary in Sri Lanka for an ethnic unity is not devolution ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  political power, but a change in the attitude of the Tamils to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ accept the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sinhala people with confidence.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Tamils in Sri Lanka need no proof that the Sinhala people had acted with honesty and sympathy towards the Tamil people, sacrificing the youngƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sinhala youth to deliver the Tamils in the North and east from a ruthless terrorists who would have been a dangerous Fascist if he ever came into power.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If the Tamils in Sri Lanka regret the demise of terrorism and follow the separatist Tamil idealists in the TNA, there seem to have no reason for political devolution. In a post terrorist Sri Lanka political solutions it takes should be ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ home made solutions, without having India or the International Community telling ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ how it should settle its problems.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There is far too much of external interference in the affairs of Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It may perhaps be necessary to draw an ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-iron curtainƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to keep away outsiders to develop our country as we want.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The 13 Amendment has been imposed on us at a time Sri Lanka was politically weak, and it is not an ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ appropriate solution for an ethnic solution, if we have one.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  India wants us to implement it whether it is good for us, as a nation or not.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It is ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ certainly not their business what happens to Sri Lanka with its development plans.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India firstly ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ wants to satisfy the Tamilnadu Politicians so that the fear of Tamilnadu one day breaking away from Indian Federal system will not happen.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  And secondly, India being ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-pawnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in the hands of the West, plays its role demanded by the West, to destabilise the Government of President Mahinda Rajapakse.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Why cannot the Government of Sri Lanka understand, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ why there are so much of anti Sri Lanka moves by various Groups, such as the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Western ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Media, BBC, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ International Crisis Group,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Human Rights Watch, Banki Moon , Navi Pillai, EuropeanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Council, Robert OƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢Blake, and Amnesty International ?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The most disgusting part played by the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Amnesty International was its ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ recent award to Channel 4 which ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-cookedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ anti Sri Lanka Videos ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The award is to ,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦. recognise excellence in human rights reporting and acknowledge journalism’s significant contribution to the UK public’s awareness and understanding of human rights issue ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ How could one respect Amnesty International which makes awards to such low disgusting false reports ?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  That shows the low ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-stinkingƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ depth into which theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Amnesty International has fallen,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  merely wanting to damage the credibility of the one and only country in the world ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that eliminated terrorism from its soil.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The reason is that they are all afraid of China having more influence in Sri Lanka, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ so that the strategic position of Sri Lanka will be lost to the West, and they will not be able to block the power balance falling into the hands of China and Russia.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The West would therefore, in order to save the power balance from falling away from them, do all within their means to make India the leading Nation of Asia, making China and Russia lag behind India.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That really is IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s role, putting away the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-bullƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  idea of strengthening the traditional friendly relations between India and Sri Lanka, from which India ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ will stand to gain.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The 13 amendment will be a means to set up a separate Tamil State in the North, with India having its High Commission Office, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ place with Diplomatic immunity in the North, which would be an added opportunityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  for any future rebels to seek safety in the High Commission of India in Jaffna.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It is likeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the callƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to set up a UN Mission in theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  war affected area when the Military Operations against the terrorists were going on.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Hope the Government of Sri Lanka and the members of the UPFA that helpedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mr. Mahinda RajapakseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  win the Presidency with a massiveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  majority, awaken the President to reality before it is too late.

6 Responses to “Is Sri Lanka giving into India’s expansionist ambition, perhaps without realising the role India is playing for the Agenda of the West ?”

  1. dhane Says:

    India is traditional & historical enemy of Sri Lanka long before western countries arrived and even now. In short Indian want to take control over Sri Lanka economy same as Fuji. This may be their hidden agenda to keep await separate state for Tamils issue coming up from Tamil Nadu.

  2. jana Says:

    winning the war and selling the country ? This is a worse form of treachery.

  3. PRIYAN WIJEYERATNE Says:

    No one has yet sold the country. If it happens we would be in a real mess, with an opposition hell bent to separate, thinking separation would rid Sri Lanka of Tamil menace. Well, keep the trust on MR. He will not betray the country.

  4. Kit Athul Says:

    HO, HO, HOWE, HOWE, INDIANS are killing the “Holy COW and selling the beef to the Arabs”! Better still, Holy COW Beef sold to SYRIA, was contaminated with BOVINE FOOT and MOUTH. So SYRIA banned this beef importation from HOLY COW INDIA, until slaughter houses are certified to International standards. For the year 2009 Holy cow beef (Hindu Beef) exported to SYRIA alone was USD 4.28 million. This figure was going to be doubled for 2010. This contaminated HINDU BEEF might be reaching Sri Lanka. “Did Rajapakse-Hanuman Singh trade pact cover Holy cow beef imports to Sri Lanka? One never knows.
    This is what INDIANS has DONE in the past; deceive the whole world with the “HOLY COW”. What are these INDIAN institutions, Sri Sri, Ravishankar, Ramakrishna Mission and Harikrishna Mission doing in Sri Lanka, one may ask? Same thing this Nirupamma Rao, HOLY COW is doing! “Create Grater Tamil Nadu” with annexed Sri Lanka, where there are no SINHALA, in Northern and Eastern Provinces.
    What if INDIA disintegrates first thing that the Tamil Nadu Tamils will do is; attempt to attack and capture SRI LANKA! Is our Armed forces ready for such an eventuality? This is going to happen in 2012!

  5. cassandra Says:

    The statement that President Rajapakse’s recent visit to India “strengthened traditional friendly relations” should come as no surprise. The phrase “strengthened traditional friendly relations” or a variation thereof is what we should have expected following his meeting with Indian leaders. It is, in truth, a meaningless set of words, just another example of diplomatic language that is used on these occasions and does not properly reflect what was discussed or agreed to by the parties.

    As you have pointed out, the course of the “traditional friendly relations” – like the course of true love – has not run very smoothly over the years; sometimes the relations have been anything but friendly.

    I was interested to note that Nehru was already a friend of SWRD from his Oxford days – interested and also a little surprised because Nehru, unlike SWRD, went to Cambridge and was about nine years older. Anyway, there is no doubt the two will have held common views on several issues. But it would seem their friendship did not help with resolving the matter of the ‘stateless’ Indians in Sri Lanka, a major issue at the time. A real breakthrough only came after Shastri succeeded Nehru and Mrs B became prime minister

    During the latter stages of the recent war, India’s assistance was significant and, almost as importantly, crucial, to militarily defeating the LTTE. But, as is often said, there is nothing called a free lunch. And now it’s time for Sri Lanka to ‘pick up the tab’. And from what we can see, India seems intent on exacting a high price.

    As you have pointed out, recent developments are genuinely worrying. Among other things, India has shown a new found eagerness to build houses in the North and the East. Such generosity comes as something of a surprise. Then it is difficult to see why India needs to open a consulate in Jaffna. And even more bewildering is the proposal to open another in Hambantota.

    And India sees nothing improper in continuing to intervene in Sri Lanka’s political affairs, from trying to force the implementation of the 13th Amendment to holding discussions with various Tamil politicians from the island. In the latter regard, one thing I have always found interesting is how the Sri Lankan Tamil political leaders periodically go to India, as if in ritual pilgrimage, to consult with Indian politicians. But, then, so do government ministers and the Leader of the Opposition! All this, I suppose, is part of the “traditional friendly relations”.

    Realistically, Sri Lanka cannot afford not to keep those relations in good order. Pragmatism and prudence , besides other considerations, make that imperative. And we need to appreciate the constraints under which the President has to act. Having said that, however, it is to be hoped that he and the government ensure that in all the agreements they make, the country’s best interests are not signed away.

  6. Nanda Says:

    We must have a strong ally. This game of relying keeping both China and India as good friends cannot continue.
    Giving to much preference to India will make us uncompetitive. We must really open markets to every country on the same basis with uncompromising set of rules. Supposing companies in China and India both bid for a big project or a supply contract, we should have Sri Lankan interest before favouring anyone. Strong preferences to one country will make other countries to avoid investing.
    India started this miserable 40 years of killing in Sri Lanka. They must apologise first, after acknowledging the wrong doings in the past, if Indian leaders have any courage.

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