India’s beggar my neighbor policy
Posted on July 18th, 2012
Ranjith Soysa
According to reports, India has expressed her concern about the development of the cement deposit in KKS when Sri Lanka requires to get the assistance of foreign investors for such a project. It is ironical that India has indicated security reasonsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to preventƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka seeking foreign funds for KKS..
In short , as in the case of Trinco oil tank farm. Coal fire station in Sampur and oil exploration in the gulf of Mannar , India demands that Sri Lanka has to depend on Indian investment and also poor Indian technologyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ONLY for economic development. In addition the Indian pressures is building for Sri Lanka to finalize the CEPA which will destroyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Sri Lankan industrial and technical base.
The time is ripe for the Sri Lankan policy makers to take up these issues with India and the other countries in the region asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka needs to develop her resources utilizing the best sources of funding, expertise and technology to provide opportunities for her people. India, an emerging world power should leave aside the moribund ideals of beggar my neighbor policy .India should review her policy towards the SAARC countries including Sri Lanka byre-balancingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and building robust diplomatic foundations.
In the 21st century India, Sri Lanka and other countries have to face the challenge of providing a square deal for the millions of poor South Asians.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is through co-operation built on sound economic principles that the region will be able to achieve this goal rather than embarking on a policy of provoking dissensions leading to instability
July 18th, 2012 at 8:21 pm
India has already ruined the economy with provincial councils costing taxpayers $ 1.2 billion (Rupees 132,000,000,000) a year with no return. 2010 figures. It is astronomical if added up since 1988. This massive wastage could have gone into development.
If CEPA is enforced, all Sri Lankan industries will be detroyed and all decent employment opportunities in the island will be grabbed by Indians. While Sri Lankan women work under terrible conditions in the Middle East to earn vital forex, Indians are simply robbing it.
Disruption of development, particularly in the north-east is another major problem. This is aimed at destabilizing the north-east again to pave way for Tamil Elam.
In 2007 too India made a similar threat about weapons. India threatened Lanka not to buy any weapons from any other country and India would decide what the weapons Lanka needs. But then Lanka had the courage to go against it. Why this shameless giving in to Indian pressure now?
It is high time the government said “no” to India.