Does Sri Lanka need India to run Sri Lanka?
Posted on April 30th, 2012

Shenali Waduge

To be called sovereign is not enough as a country must be steered by elected natives of that sovereign country and not those remote controlling from overseas. Nevertheless, to our horror we are discovering daily that our sovereignty is being compromised and our hard won victory over terrorism and the sacrifices made towards that achievement is being overtaken by ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-interventionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ of a kind we now need to voice loud enough for elected leaders to start putting their act together. Appeasing our enemies and not watching our state assets, natural resources and the repercussions of the commitments being made on the handshake of cordiality has not led us anywhere in the past and is unlikely to in the future though it may fatten the givers purses. Yet, no elected native would want to end up Mubaraks, Charles Taylors, Saddam Husseins or GaddafiƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s because those that swing the pendulums will never make exceptions to those targetedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦and native leaders of Sri Lanka need to realize this too. The choice is simple ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” to acquire but be unable to enjoy what was acquired or to patriotically lead and remain heroes in the eyes of the Sri Lankan public for posterity is what all our leaders need to ask themselves.

Open any daily newspaper and a common feature is the increasing presence of Indians signing deals, starting ventures, opening showrooms, visiting State politicians and whatsmore promoting Sri Lanka. Do we not have eligible and efficient people to promote our own country? While it is unfair to blame Indian presence in Sri Lanka or make any of them feel unwelcome it is our own leaders and officials who must be made to answer what is exactly going on?

There isnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t an area that India is not investing in and Indians have found it more than ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-homelyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to set up shop and reside in Sri Lanka. Go to any retail store to see the influx. Even Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s electronic media is under Indian scrutiny as is every aspect of polity by a large contingent of Indian intelligence already operational throughout Sri Lanka. Allowing subversive actions to take place and blaming covert plans is hardly the remedy. We now need to be more assertive, more offensive in putting our country back on track.

Our Ceylon Tea is being promoted by India through its ventures in our plantation industry. One would be surprised at the number of joint ventures that have taken place. India is building homes ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” 50,000 such to be given to the civilians rescued during the final stages of the war. Our guess is that these recipients are likely to be Indian illegal immigrants arriving over the years from Tamil Nadu assisted by LTTE. Why were there no hue and cry by Indian Central Government or the Tamil Nadu politicians when the LTTE prevailed over Indian fishermen coming into Sri Lankan waters and only now harsh diplomatic statements are being sent to Sri Lanka?

India is also pushing for the full implementation of the CEPA which spells more dangers for Sri Lanka and its industries though a handful of Sri Lankan companies are likely to benefit by opening shop in India. What good would the benefit for less than 10 Sri Lankan companies do when the entire business entrepreneurship of small and medium enterprises is likely to suffer death as a result?

Over 50 Indian companies showcased themselves covering a range of industries at the India Investrade Exhibition held in Sri Lanka. We can presume there is likely to be more than threefold that number of Indian companies already operating in Sri Lanka discounting the Indians operating illegally who had made use of the visa on arrival facility offered to India. These Indian companies are said to have invested USD150m in Sri Lanka in 2012 alone. It is not difficult to presume the profit they are likely to make and the millions that will be taken out of the country as a result. Sri Lanka may have gained USD150m but we are likely to lose more than double that amount very soon.

When the person who ruined Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s education system has shown no difference in the manner the Ceylon Petroleum has been run we are simply waiting for the next announcement to hear that Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s oil distribution is to be hereafter handled by Indian Oil Corporation who had pronounced readiness to invest USD2b to upgrade the Sapugaskanda oil refinery. What has become increasingly annoying to see is that these ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-bail outsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ of state commodities and state services compromised to foreign interests has been purely on the grounds that the heads of these ministries have simply watched its administration fall to pieces paying little interest to productivity, quality or quantity of service. As a result the entire country is losing out on its natural assets and the public has to simply watch and listen to the excuses of our leaders.

Similar situation is taking place in the electricity distribution. Despite, the controversy over the setting up of the Norochcholai power plant by China we have not seen any remarkable results. Fires and other hiccups are often given as excuses with the Ceylon electricity board continuously announcing massive losses and offering plenty of excuses. Now there is talk of an Indian project to provide electricity beneath the sea. What good is a 4000billion rupee investment to get electricity distribution from India below the water by fixing 300km long wires which will give Sri Lanka only 500mega volt electricity? What about the environmental issues that may arise too as India is also opening a nuclear plant to which only a few concerned people from Sri Lanka are raising concerns while the Sri Lankan Government remains mum.

Is it simply enough to jump on stage and shout at India in local tongue but pay glowing courtesies to India excusing its actions and pronouncing it a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-friendƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, allowing India to practically take over all our assets and dictate how our country should be run? Are our leaders allowing India to simply walk over us? What good was a war fought to the end to eliminate a terrorist movement which led to the lives of so many youth and innocent civilians if we are to be run and ruled by India?

ShouldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t the Tamils themselves realize that India has been fooling them for decades and India has no intention of giving an Eelaam to Tamil Nadu or Sri Lanka? If India wanted to give Eelaam wouldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t it have been done as fast as Bangladesh was created? It is still not late for Tamils to think as Sri Lankans and to join to save the nation from a country that cares little for anything but its Hindi dominance.

If IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s involvement primarily centers around its role in the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord creating the 13th amendment and the Provincial Council system, with a 2/3 majority what is stopping Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Government from doing what the entire nation is requesting? If the North-East Merger part of the 13th amendment was annulled by Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚s Supreme Court what is stopping Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Government from throwing to the dustbin the 13thamendment and the Provincial Council system and bringing back the District Council system? Everyone knows that the Provincial Council system is nothing but a waste and whatsmore the Provincial council members including their heads are nothing short of criminals.

If the people of Sri Lanka have come to view India and Indian plans as being detrimental to our country what is stopping our politicians realizing this and doing something about it? Those in Government and in Opposition owe it to the people to bury their differences to ensure the nation remains Sri Lanka and for Sri Lankans. At the rate things are going all our politicians may well be taking orders from Delhi if our leaders do not start to wake up from their slumber. Do we not have powerful friends to turn to? Friends that would never do what India did to us in Geneva? Should we not be making better use of them? If we are unable to fight it out alone isnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t it far better strategically to align with nations that have stood with us in times of need and not the nations that are simply issuing contradictory statements and conniving our downfall? They may offer personal benefits to some but it would lead to the ultimate downfall of the entire nation and its people.

Let us also not forget that both China and RussiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s term at the UNHRC will end in December 2012.

Is it not enough that generations of Sri Lankans will have to pay for the lavish exorbitances of those who are and have been in power, their bad decisions and the compromises they have made that has denied the country and its people to benefit from the natural resources that remainsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦are we to next loose the only pride we have ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” to call our nation our own sovereign Sri Lanka!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 


17 Responses to “Does Sri Lanka need India to run Sri Lanka?”

  1. May182009 Says:

    The Indo-Lanka Peace Accord of 1987 is still valid as it was never OFFICIALLY abrogated.

    No government will abrogate it unless they come to their senses.

    That opened floodgates for other unfavourable agreements. India might even celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord this year.

  2. nandimitra Says:

    we have a set of spineless politicians to whom country and the nastion means nothing but self is every thing. If we had men of integrity by now the 13th amendment would have been abrogated.

  3. dhane Says:

    If Indian becoming more and more involved in Sri Lanka very soon like Fiji Island Indians will be controlling our economy. Remember there was a Indian man who become the Prime Minister of Fiji some time back. Therefore better get ride of the bloody Indians before its too late. SL need no advice from any Politicians how to run our mother Lanka. These bloody Indian Politicians either in North or South India cannot provide decent Toilet facilities to their own people but coming to advice us! What a joke is that!

  4. thurai Says:

    Many Indien Politicians are worldrang Nr: 1 in Blackmoney affairs in the world.
    Tamilnadu is worldrang Nr.1 in cast discrimination among Tamils.
    Tamils who live with Sinhalese are safegurded from cast discriminations.
    If TN and India want to assist Tamils , First they must open their eyes and understand the realism.
    Investment of India who always reject the LTTE in TN not advisable

  5. ekelbroom Says:

    The first (?) Indian from Tamil Nadu allegedly responsible for the murder of a Farmer in Hungama has been arrested. I suppose it was only a matter of time for such a crime to occur given the influx of these vermin to Sri Lanka.

  6. Fran Diaz Says:

    Shenali, what you say is too true.

    Also, as you say “India is building homes – 50,000 such to be given to the civilians rescued during the final stages of the war. Our guess is that these recipients are likely to be Indian illegal immigrants arriving over the years from Tamil Nadu assisted by LTTE”. We say that all ILLEGAL MIGRANTS must be deported. That is the only way that law & order can be restored in Lanka. That would be start in the right direction.
    Otherwise, it is a case of a message to Tamil Nadu folk : “come to Lanka, lose caste, get converted, get jobs etc.”. We are losing our children in endless wars for nothing else but trying to solve/ease Tamil Nadu caste/poverty issues by allowing TN illegals to come to Lanka.

    Tamil Nadu has banned Conversions since 2002, and the repeal of this Act is still in the form of an Ordinance (Bill), and as such non-effective. Conversions to Islam, Christianity and other religions are done to get away from low caste/Dalit origins. The influx of illegals from TN began, we suspect, from 2002 onwards when the ban on conversions there became effective.
    The parallel time in Lanka had Ranil W. & Norwegians running with the ltte. – do you get the picture ? It all appears worked out in tandem with TN leaders (Jayalalitha) to encourage Tamils illegals to cross over to Lanka.

    Wake up, Lanka ! Tell our Lawmakers to deport all illegals and not allow any more Indians come and settle down in Sri Lanka, legally or illegally. We have a full quota of them in here already and we need some breathing space. The local people have not yet woken up to the dangers through Tourism and the fact that SAARC rules now allow member countries (which includes India) people to enter Lanka more easily than for others. I do not why, but Lanka ends up the loser, every time.

  7. Fran Diaz Says:

    The cheap labor that some entrepreneurs here envisage through Tamil Nadu illegals will be a short lived reality. Tamil leaders who are, in the end, Separatists, such as those in the TNA, have other plans for Tamil illegals to be padding for the Separatist cause. Tamil illegals are not interested in working, but more interested in free education, health care, housing, etc. which cannot be found in TN. Also, they will follow the Tamil leaders of Lanka, not others, however much is given to them. So illegals end up in the Tamil Separatists’ maw, like it or not.

    As for the tea sector, we think that Mechanisation & Modernisation of the tea sector will enable people of other ethnicities too to work in the tea plantations, easing the need for Tamil labor.

    Re Labor in Lanka, the May Day write up in the Island of May 1st, says it all. Read at http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=news-section&page=news-section&code_title=49

  8. lingamAndy Says:

    Does Sri Lanka need India to run Sri Lanka? YES !
    Eg: Indians are building 100,000 house for war affected people in Sri lanka but same Great India cannot provide decent Toilet facilities to their own people (who using trailway truck )

  9. charithsls Says:

    I quite agree with your comments that India cannot run Sri Lanka.However what I would inquire from all patriots is what about we voluntarily and whole heartedly trying to be indians already?Almost all Sinhala women without any compunction wear the indian dress denigrating our culture.All TV programmes sponsored by indian companies show participants wearing indian dress cultivating this habit.Why all Sinhala nationalists keeping mum not raising a whimp? I’ve seen even the first lady falling to this ruse.There has to be a campaign to raise awarenes to this plague before our nationality and culture suffer.Trousers and skirts jeans though western are standard dresses and this also raises the issue that Sinhalese should invent a dress with middle break in the legs to suit the new millenium.
    CS

  10. Fran Diaz Says:

    Sri Lanka needs to Modernise & Mechanise, in our homes, in the work place, in the plantations, etc.
    Lankans can copy some of the successful dress modes, some from India and some from the west, and use machines to do some of the work e.g. tea plucking, machines for washing & drying etc. We ought to at least assemble some of these machines in Lanka. We should revamp our education system to suit the needs of the country, and bring in more Sci&Tech education, skills training, etc.
    However, what needs to be done urgently is that we ought to have Laws to register boundaries & protect all places of worship (all religions), and stop the proliferation of shrines with a moratorium for at least 10 yrs. Or else the little bit we have gained so far will be lost.
    Do we need India for all this ? We don’t think so. Indians can be taken in small doses, but not in overwhelming strength !

  11. Marco Says:

    Does Sri Lanka need India to “run” Sri Lanka? No!
    Does India need Sri Lanka: No!
    Does Sri Lanka need India: Yes!

    India are “Masters” at their own destiny.
    The author (Indian educated) says that if you open any daily newspaper and a common feature is the increasing presence of Indians signing deals, starting ventures, opening showrooms etc. That’s just not in Sri Lanka but all over the world.
    Even in China. eg: a JV company in India having obtained a licence to brand a high profile (luxury) accessory for Apple Iphone outsourced the manufacturing to China. It’s cheaper.
    Sri Lankans are finding better paid jobs in India in the IT sector.

    Last weekends Sunday Times Rich List in the UK had an Indian at the Top. (and he is not that Rich compared to the Sahara, Ambani etc) Forbes List consists of over two dozen Indians in the top 50.

    20%-30% of tourist arrivals in Colombo are middle class Indians on budget holidays staying at the Taj. Their spending power is far greater than the European (travel longer and more expensive travel fare) middle class tourists.

    At a macro level, Indians are possibly waiting for the Chinese “soft loans” to SL mature and US get into more debt with China before they “home” in on Sri Lanka.

    MR should talk to his brother BR on the Indian connections!

    On the political front, if MR keeps inviting the Indians and blatantly lie after they leave the Sri Lankan shores, what do you expect?

  12. Fran Diaz Says:

    The GDP & the Rich List anywhere doesn’t mean anything ! It’s the distribution of wealth plus wealth creation in any country that counts. There are so called Democracies with 70-80% plus of the wealth held by a top few. Huge mansions surrounded by slums have come up in India and in Brazil. Is this real progress in a Democracy ? We think not. Besides, measuring well being of a Nation through the Quality of Life Index is far more accurate an index than the GDP or having a large number on the Rich List.
    What’s May Day about ?
    What’s ‘War Hero Commemoration Month’ about ?

    It’s the People that count, not so much the Money. Money is there to serve the People, not vice versa.

  13. Andare Says:

    People were mant to be loved and money was meant to be used for their well being. However in ‘Abbudhassa kale’ (Kali Yuga) it is exactly the opposite. We love money and use people.

  14. Lorenzo Says:

    People wearing Indian dresses doen’t say a thing.

    Then more people wear European dreasses including ALL school children and ALL office workers, etc. Does that mean we are becoming European? NO. It is just the dress.

    Just because we wear their dresses doesn’t mean we should listen to them!

    Bloody Indians have been the CURSE of the entire neighbourhood not just SL. Ask a Pakistani, a Napalese, a Bangladeshi, a Maldivian, a Bhutani or a Burmese. They say the SAME THING! All south Asians (except Indians) cannot be wrong on India! India is the problem in the region.

  15. Lorenzo Says:

    Does Sri Lanka need India: NO

    Did SL invite India to solve our problems in 1987? NO. We only told them f* off without a thank you in 1989.

    Did we ask India to build houses for INDIAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS? NO. We asked India to take them back in 1964 and 1974.

    Did we ask India for CEPA? NO. India imposes it and SLs HATE it.

    Indian tourists are the CHEAPEST. They don’t spend even 5% of what European, Chinese or Japanese tourists spend. No surprises. Euroepan and Japaense GDP per capita is 20 times more than India. Chinese GDP per capita is 10 times more than India!

  16. Lorenzo Says:

    Indians and Russians topping the UK rich list has NO impact on SL!

    They are BRITISH citizens not bloody Indian citizens. The Indians SL know are the illegal immigrants beggin at our doorsteps, killing our farmers, robbing our fish and land.

  17. Fran Diaz Says:

    Lorenzo,

    The worst part for Lanka is IGNORANCE (via Tamil Nadu) imported along with illegal migrants ! Did you read the article on the current Lankaweb re a poor 5-yr old girl killed as a blood sacrifice … horrendous that such an event happened in Tamil Nadu in the year 2012. What a price to pay for ignorance – lack of proper education, insulated, poverty, caste bound living. Do Lankans want such Ignorance from TN imported here ?

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