Factors relevant to Indo-Lanka relations
Posted on July 2nd, 2014
Shenali D Waduge
While Sri Lanka are always made to remind itself that every time India sneezes Sri Lanka is likely to catch a cold, there are some facts that cannot be ignored as well. Countries may be big and powerful but that is no grounds to brush aside smaller countries using that logic. It is strange that India as big as it is should feel obsessed about keeping Sri Lanka trampled and with explicit orders only to run to mummy India despite its history of misdemeanors. India needs to seriously address this complex for it dents relationships at every level. Nevertheless, there are some factors that Sri Lanka cannot overlook.
Fact 1 : Armed Tamil militancy began because of India
- Let’s not beat around the bush but acknowledge that India first undertook to clandestinely engage unemployed Tamil youth from Sri Lanka to be brought to India and given military training in various locations. India thereafter, divided these Tamils into various groups headed by different leaders under different names. LTTE under Prabakaran was one such India-trained armed militant group handled by Indian intelligence. When these Tamil youth had been ‘handled’ by one country it naturally raises possibilities of these groups being ‘handled’ by other countries too and that should explain what happened to Rajiv Gandhi.
- India needs to accept and apologize for its role in arming Tamil youth and turning them into armed militants that led to Tamils killing each other and thereafter to 3 decades of terror. The initial phase of LTTE and other armed militant groups was solely handled by India and its intelligence agents.
- India cannot claim to be protector or friend of Sri Lanka until and unless India acknowledges its crime of aggression committed clandestinely over a period of time against a nation that did no wrong to India. The Jain Commission report very clearly gives places of training in India with numbers of Sri Lankan Tamils trained.
- RAW may have trained the LTTE but the decision to arm Tamil youth and turn them into militants was made by the Indian Central Government – a decision made by Indira Gandhi. RAW was only carrying out orders.
- India must avow to the Sri Lankan populace that India will not indulge in any future destabilizing operations while apologizing to India’s role in creating, training and arming LTTE and other armed militancy.
- Accountability calls cannot omit IPKF rapes of some 4000 Tamil civilians, Jaffna hospital massacre of even Tamil doctors or the Velvettiturai massacre of unarmed civilians. Sri Lankan Tamils must realize these killings were committed by IPKF Indian soldiers, the country that has been projecting ‘concern’ for Tamils.
Fact 2: India well in control of Tamil Nadu state
- Contrary to general perceptions, India’s Central Government is NOT manipulated by Tamil Nadu, it is ONLY an impression given to leverage diplomatic pressures over Sri Lanka. India’s Central Government is very capable of controlling Tamil Nadu IF it wants to and when it needs to. We need to realize why India’s Central Government does not when it should. Sri Lanka’s politicians need to realize this dynamics and play upon it.
Fact 3: India and Tamil Nadu playing politics with Sri Lankan Tamils
- Tamil Nadu pretends concern for Sri Lankan Tamils and is part of a piggy-back ride because of (6) so Tamil Nadu can make the most out of the discontent evolving between 2 nations and make itself look more important than the rest of the States, this in turn invites all the foreign destabilizing operators to make detours to Tamil Nadu and open their goodybag of whats in store if their line is towed. The game is called politics.
- Both the Indian Central Government and Tamil Nadu are playing football with Indian fishermen for their own personal political agendas. Unnecessarily fishermen on both sides of the spectrum are getting arrested and released in a game of fish / arrest and get freed.
Fact 4: ‘Concern’ for Tamil slogan
- When Tamil Nadu politicians declare ‘concern’ for Sri Lankan Tamils, the Tamils in Sri Lanka must count and read out all the names of the Tamil politicians, Tamil public servants, Tamil unarmed civilians, Tamil children that the LTTE and other armed groups training by India killed and seek an explanation from India. It is all the time only the Sinhalese raising these killings from India and not Tamils.
- It is also time for Sri Lankans and Tamils too to wonder how India can solve Sri Lanka’s problems when India has not solved theirs. With hundreds of terrorist elements and other destabilizing agents on ground and infiltrating into interior India, India has no time or manpower to be solving issues that it enjoys creating in other countries. Moreover, if Sri Lanka has a problem it is Sri Lanka’s problem not India’s or any other country. Assistance can come ONLY and IF ONLY a request is made.
- The fishermen issue is the best example. If Tamil Nadu are so concerned about Sri Lankan Tamils, why are they sending Indian Fishermen to Sri Lankan seas and thereby denying Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen their livelihood. How much of revenue are these Sri Lankan Tamils losing as a result of Indian fishermen and the equipment there are using is also affecting the Sri Lankan coastline and long term it will only affect the Sri Lankan Tamils. Is it not ‘fishy’ that the Chief Minister and TNA are also mum on fighting for the rights of their own people when it comes to the fishing issue? Indians cant fish in Sri Lanka and destabilize our country too. What if Sri Lankan Government allows Indians to fish in Sri Lanka’s North, the Tamil fishermen would be denied livelihood and that will not be good for TNA when it comes to voting time!
Fact 5: More to Rajiv Gandh’s assassination / Investigate LTTE links to Maino family
- Congress Government’s Chairperson needs to own up to links with her family and LTTE and the Indian Government needs to immediately launch an investigation to how many Indian artifacts and priceless treasures have been smuggled out of India to be sold in Italy. This accusation made by Dr. Subramaniam Swamy needs to now be thoroughly investigated.
- With regard to the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi- it must also not be forgotten that Rajiv Gandhi was killed by Indian and Sri Lankan Tamils.
Fact 6: Clear stand on Eelam (If not in India – then not in Sri Lanka)
- AIADMK Manifesto clearly promises to create an Eelam for Tamils. The Modi Government must put a firm lid on this and other such future declarations by AIADMK or any other political party in India if India is genuinely concerned about forging sincere diplomatic ties with neighbors. Similarly, the Sri Lankan Government for political correctness should not sit silent when the Northern Province passes resolutions for similar eelams.
Fact 7: India must tell Indian Tamils and Sri Lanka must tell Sri Lankan Tamils – There will be no Eelam
- Both Sri Lankan politicians need to realize that Tamils in Sri Lanka are Sri Lankan citizens and Tamils need to realize this too. Indian politicians and States and their politicians need to also realize that when referring to Sri Lankan Tamils these Tamils are by virtue of their citizenship NOT INDIAN. If they so wish to be they are welcome to denounce their Sri Lankan citizenship and obtain Indian citizenship rights. Therefore, whenever any Indian politician makes a furor on Tamils in Sri Lanka they must first realize that they are referring to citizens of another sovereign nation and be mindful of the threats they make.
Fact 8: Custodian of Buddhism should belong to Sri Lanka – leaders need to take wholehearted ownership
- Buddhism and its protection belong to Sri Lanka. India having abandoned Buddhism should not use it simply as a soft tool for political gain thus diminishing the value of the noble teachings of Buddha. The protection and fostering of Buddhism rightfully belongs to Sri Lanka and it is good for Sri Lanka’s leaders to realize that Buddhism is not to be considered as a soft tool only but very powerful in its own right.
Fact 9: 13th amendment must go – Both India & Sri Lanka must realize its dangers and playing politics with it will be detrimental
- An India that is making a huff and puff about 13th amendment must be asked to respond to India’s breach of the Indo-Lanka Accord the basis of the 13tha and a good ground for Sri Lanka to repeal the Accord on account of India not keeping to its promises as clearly given in 2.16 of the Accord These proposals are also CONDITIONAL to the GOVERNMENT OF INDIA taking the following actions if any militant groups operating in Sri Lanka do not accept this framework of proposals for a settlement”.
o India to take ALL necessary steps to ensure Indian territory is not used for activities prejudicial to the unity, integrity and security of Sri Lanka. (PROMISE NOT KEPT BY INDIA)
o Indian navy/coast guard to cooperate with the Sri Lanka Navy in preventing Tamil militant activities from affecting Sri Lanka. (PROMISE NOT KEPT BY INDIA)
o In the event that the Government of Sri Lanka requests the Government of India to afford military assistance to implement these proposals the Government of India will cooperate by giving the Government of Sri Lanka such military assistance as and when requested (IPKF arrives in Sri Lanka in July 1987 and were asked to leave in March 1990)
o The Government of India will expedite repatriation from Sri Lanka of Indian citizens to India who are resident here, concurrently with the repatriation of Sri Lankan refugees from Tamil Nadu. (We believe quite a number of Indians are living as Sri Lankan Tamils in Sri Lanka and have been doing so for the past 3 decades)
We need to also mention that North and East was unnecessarily merged until Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court demerged the two provinces. The declaration is another reason to annul the Indo-Lanka Accord in toto and thus make the 13a a nonentity as well.
It must also be added that the 13th amendment and the Provincial Councils bill came much later. There was NO DEFINED ENTITY of the Provincial Council in the July 1987 Accord. It would be good for the GOSL to consider changing boundaries of the provinces so as to protect its strategic interests.
- It is a good time for everyone to start wondering for WHOSE INTEREST the 13th amendment and the Provincial Council system is and thereafter start debating on what to do if the 13tha is of no relevance to Sri Lanka. 13tha should not be allowed to fulfill neo-colonial agendas of any nation to get a foothold in Sri Lanka. Locals that chirp on the need to give 13tha and more are obviously agents working in the interests of other nations.
- We need to also remember and the international community should well do to take too that there would be NO 13thamendment or the provincial council system if India had not forced Sri Lanka to sign the Indo-Lanka Accord and make constitutional amendments. 13tha is not indigenous to Sri Lanka and it is on this argument that the public demands it to be annulled.
Fact 10: India needs to realize bilateral relations with Sri Lanka means all 20million – not ONLY Tamils.
- With regard to implementation of the LLRC – these are all RECOMMENDATIONS and it is the prerogative of the Government in power to decide which ones will be implemented and which one’s wont. It is not for India, US, UK, Canada or any UN official to decide.
- India and the international community as well as the Sri Lankan Government and Opposition politicians are reminded that Tamils are just 2million in a country of 20million and it is morally wrong to be demanding the Government to address the needs of a few lakhs of that 2million since the rest are living amongst Sinhalese or abroad holding foreign passports. Sri Lanka’s problems do not revolve around ONLY Tamils – there are over 88% of people who are not Tamils and their rights and needs have to be also looked into.
- Narendra Modi in particular should take up the issue of caste as Tamil low castes have been at the receiving end – they were picked to become child soldiers, the LTTE cadres were made up of low caste Hindus and converted Hindus which explains why cadres were all buried and called martyrs. Moreover, the fact that Hindus distance themselves from their own due to caste factors are driving Hindus to convert and align to Abrahamic agendas. With Narendra Modi’s nationalism this must be a top priority too.
We believe that Narendra Modi will usher a period different to what Indira Gandhi and her son fostered against Sri Lanka. That Modi is a hands on leader, a visionary and clearly demarcates Hindu India on the Indian map is welcome and shows Modi to be very much interested in Asia and bringing up Asia rather than prostituting India to the West.
We look forward to India taking a higher moral ground vis a vis its relationship with Sri Lanka as well for it has much to repair in view of the factors that have build distrust against India in Sri Lanka.
July 1st, 2014 at 9:26 am
Modi & Lady have big plan , Our Dady (NP CM) will be summons soon !
Jeyawaya !!!
Naalai pirakkum Saiva Thamil Eelam !!!
July 1st, 2014 at 10:00 am
Great article with full of promise to what India should do in order to reconcile with Sri Lanka but I quote the following:
“India must avow to the Sri Lankan populace that India will not indulge in any future destabilizing operations while apologizing to India’s role in creating, training and arming LTTE and other armed militancy.”
That INDIA CANNOT DO! It will depend on the geopolitics of the future. India cannot be forced to submit to promises she will not keep if the geopolitics of Sri Lanka change against her, no more than any nation can force Sri Lanka to make such promises.
It will depend on how the region evolves. Right now partly because of India’s interference, her support of selective human rights violations on Sri Lanka while shielding herself of those same accusations and her refusal to engage in the sale of weapons to Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka has to make her own policies with other regional nations that best exemplify Sri Lanka’s strategic interests and those interests do not have to please India.
In a similar manner India has issues in the region where her security is China and Pakistan Centric. Being so the her strategic interests may not be in tandem with Sri Lanka’s. Considering the role India played in her proxy war against Sri Lanka the strategic interests of Sri Lanka will be for Sri Lanka’s benefit and not necessarily to India’s
July 1st, 2014 at 11:17 am
IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO GO THROUGH SUBRAMANIAM SAMY- HE IS A GOOD FRIEND
July 1st, 2014 at 1:02 pm
Finally, the Government of India ACTS RESPONSIBLY according to International Law.
Does this new display of common sense spring from Narendra Modi’s sensible hand at the helm of India?
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Indian government tells court TN fishermen have no rights to fishing in Sri Lanka’s Katchatheevu islet
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
July 01, Chennai: India’s central government told a state court today that Tamil Nadu fishermen have no rights to fishing in Sri Lanka’s Katchatheevu islet in the Palk Strait.
In an affidavit filed before the Madras High Court in Chennai, the Indian government said the Katchatheevu islet is a sovereign property of Sri Lanka ceded to island nation by the 1974 and 1976 agreements between the two countries and the agreements do not confer any fishing rights on fishermen from India in the islet, Press Trust of India reported.
“Under the agreements of 1974 and 1976, Indian fishermen and pilgrims will enjoy access to Katchatheevu and will not be required by Sri Lanka to obtain travel documents or visas for these purposes. The right of access is not understood to cover fishing rights around the island to Indian fishermen,” the Center said in the reply affidavit.
The affidavit was in response to a PIL filed by Fishermen Care President L A Peter Rayan seeking to retake the islet ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974.
Disputing the PIL claim, which does not recognize Sri Lanka’s sovereignty of the island and says that the agreements had clear provisions for allowing Indian fishermen to do fishing around the island, the center government said the boundary between the two countries had already been clearly delineated and it would not allow Indian fishermen to cross over and exploit the marine resources in the waters of another country.
Under the treaty agreement of 1974, Indian fishermen have lost the rights to fishing around the island as it is within the territorial waters of Sri Lanka and the 1976 agreement has established the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), which the fishermen in the two countries are not allowed to cross into each other’s territory.
It said the fishermen could rest, dry their nets and attend the annual St Antony’s festival in Katchatheevu.
The transfer of the uninhabited island with only a Catholic shrine has been under dispute since the transfer as Indian fishermen claim they have the rights to fish around the island.
Last year, the Tamil Nadu government under Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa filed a petition in the Indian Supreme Court seeking the declaration of the 1974 agreement between India and Sri Lanka on ceding Kachchativu to the latter as unconstitutional.
The Centre, however, said government of India had continuously emphasized to the Sri Lankan government that there was no justification for use of force against Indian fishermen even though almost all instances of alleged harassment of fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy occur in Sri Lankan waters.
A bench, comprising acting Chief Justice Satish K Agnihotri and Justice M M Sundresh, adjourned the matter by two weeks for further hearing.
July 1st, 2014 at 1:03 pm
Bravo, Mr. Defense Secretary!
INDEED, Gotabhaya, Sri Lanka will not allow any terrorism to rise against India on Sri Lankan soil.
Not as long as you are at the helm of Sri Lanka’s defenses!
JAYAWEWA!
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‘No possibility of Lanka-based terrorism against India’ : Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
July 01 (PTI) Sri Lanka today ruled out any possibility that its soil could be used for terror attacks against India, after the recent discovery of an alleged terrorist plot to attack foreign missions in South India.
“The Indian intelligence agencies have told me that there is a possibility of Islamic terrorism being based in Sri Lanka to act against India. However, we investigated these concerns and found that there is no merit in these concerns or claims,” said Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in an interview with the Daily Mirror newspaper here today.
Indian authorities recently started investigating an alleged plot by a Pakistan-based terror group to carry out suicide attacks on US and Israeli consulates in South India.The conspiracy was reportedly planned overseas including in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Maldives.The plot was foiled by effective coordination of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) with countries such as Malaysia which tipped off India about the plan being hatched from Sri Lankan soil to attack the consulates in Chennai and Bangalore.
Rajapaksa, the brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, spearheaded the military campaign which crushed the LTTE’s 30-year campaign for a separate Tamil state.He denied any involvement or backing of the Buddhist nationalist BBS group, or the Forces of Buddhist Power, that is blamed for recent attacks against the Muslim minority.
“I will give up this post if they can prove this. I will leave this post if they can prove that I have any connection with any of these things or organisations,” he said. Responding to opposition accusations of his involvement with BBS, Rajapaksa said there was no need to create any organisation to counter any threat.”That is not the way I work, that is not the way the intelligence agencies or the government works. If there is a problem we have more than adequate resources to quell it. I don’t need to create organisations to do this.”
Rajapaksa said besides the BBS, there are many other organisations that are based on ethnic and religious lines.”Is the BBS the only organisation that is based on these lines? No, there are Muslim and other religious organisations,” he said.
He added that the government had thwarted attempts by the LTTE to regroup. “There were so many attempts by the LTTE to regroup and destroy the peace in this country. We were able to prevent that,” he said. The government in April said at least three people had been killed in the Tamil-dominated north who were allegedly working towards a resurgence of the militant group.
July 1st, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Bernard Wijayasingha,
Absolutely AGREE with your comment:
“It will depend on how the region evolves. Right now partly because of India’s interference, her support of selective human rights violations on Sri Lanka while shielding herself of those same accusations and her refusal to engage in the sale of weapons to Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka has to make her own policies with other regional nations that best exemplify Sri Lanka’s strategic interests and those interests do not have to please India.”
July 1st, 2014 at 1:12 pm
INDEED, Shenali ….
“Fact 9: 13th amendment must go – Both India & Sri Lanka must realize its dangers and playing politics with it will be detrimental”
Let Sri Lanka get rid of this Indian Ball & Chain binding her Hand & Foot …. NOW!
July 1st, 2014 at 1:21 pm
Ananda: Thank you for your response to my comment. But I must question your rationality of your comment of praising Sri Lanka for not allowing terrorism on her soil that would jeopardize India. commendable as it is the reverse is not true. Will India allow terrorism to take root on her soil that would jeopardize Sri Lanka?
So far Karunanidhi has resurrected almost all the pro LTTE organizations in Tamil Nadu and New Delhi has done nothing. What if Colombo allowed the Taliban to the Haqqani network thrive in Sri Lanka knowing it will work against India? That is what India is doing right now and getting away with it.
July 1st, 2014 at 4:12 pm
BW,
No matter what stupid things India herself does, it will never be in Sri Lanka’s interest to be a country that sponsors terrorism. Two wrongs do not make a right.
There will never be an advantage to any country by doing such things; they always bounce back home to roost.
The USA’s recent destabilization of Arab countries under the pretexts of “Human Rights” and “Democracy” is a prime example of how sponsoring of unrest in other countries has unintended consequences to oneself. These Arab Spring activities are now rebounding in the form of a revived Sunni Islamic State in Iraq and Syria on the one hand and the crystallization of a Shiite power block on the other.
July 1st, 2014 at 4:17 pm
EXACTLY.
Endia still allows Tamil TERROR groups to operate from Endia to destabilize SL. Endia does the same thing to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.
SL should follow the SAME approach.
Then both parties can come to an understanding NOT to hurt each other. GAME THEORY. If we don’t play this GAME RIGHT, we will always have to compromise and Endia will have a HIGHER bargaining power over SL MATTERS.
OTOH if Muslims become too troublesome, SL should seek Endian help to wipe out Muslim terror. MODI will gladly help.
July 1st, 2014 at 4:22 pm
Ananda,
I DISAGREE in the case of SL.
We VERY SUCCESSFULLY used terrorist groups to fight terrorist groups.
e.g. TMVP against LTTE
e.g. EPDP against LTTE
e.g. PRRA against JVP
As we have an army, navy, air force, STF, SF, etc. we must also have sponsored rebel groups (NON STATE ACTORS) because they can achieve things NO state army can in the POLITICAL STAGE.
That will force a compromise on BOTH sides leading to permanent peace. EQUILIBRIUM.
July 1st, 2014 at 4:22 pm
ABSOLUTELY AGREE with Minister Ranawaka … it is indeed a Foregone Conclusion … nothing we say or do will change that by ONE IOTA.
The Western Agenda is to contain and undermine Sri Lanka just as they undermined other “Arab Spring” countries and inflicted chaos and destruction upon them. Neo-Colonialist Self-Interest is what motivates them, not right and wrong.
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Outcome of UN probe a foregone conclusion – Champika
By Nadira Gunatilleke
DailyNews.lk
July 1, 2014
The outcome of the UN probe on Sri Lanka is very clear and it is a foregone conclusion, Technology, Research and Atomic Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said yesterday.
“They have already made up their minds. It will only be a supportive document to the Darusman Report.
Whether we participate or not, they have an expanded charge sheet against Sri Lanka. They will do their utmost to tarnish Sri Lanka’s image and the government’s moral legitimacy,” Minister Ranawaka told the Daily News. “Individual countries will take action against individuals as well as against the country as a whole. Therefore, we have to prepare to face this challenge as a country and as a society.
Some are fixated on destabilising and derailing the country and transforming Sri Lanka into another Afghanistan,” he said.
Minister Ranawaka said western powers are now trying to contain our country and are expanding the charge sheet. “Earlier they were talking about accountability and now they talk about religious harmony and other matters. In this way, they are expanding the charge sheet against our country and through it, trying to gain moral legitimacy for their future actions”.
The minister said their propaganda tools such as the Qatar based Al-Jazeera, British based BBC and the US based CNN were fabricating wild allegations against the Sinhala Buddhist community in Sri Lanka to justify Jihadist groups to operate in Sri Lanka.
– See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=local/outcome-un-probe-foregone-conclusion-champika#sthash.hnMva9Rg.dpuf
July 1st, 2014 at 4:24 pm
ABSOLUTELY AGREE with Minister Ranawaka … it is indeed a Foregone Conclusion … nothing we say or do will change that by ONE IOTA.
The Western Agenda is to contain and undermine Sri Lanka just as they undermined other “Arab Spring” countries and inflicted chaos and destruction upon them. Neo-Colonialist Self-Interest is what motivates them, not right and wrong.
………………….
Outcome of UN probe a foregone conclusion – Champika
By Nadira Gunatilleke
DailyNews.lk
July 1, 2014
The outcome of the UN probe on Sri Lanka is very clear and it is a foregone conclusion, Technology, Research and Atomic Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said yesterday.
“They have already made up their minds. It will only be a supportive document to the Darusman Report.
Whether we participate or not, they have an expanded charge sheet against Sri Lanka. They will do their utmost to tarnish Sri Lanka’s image and the government’s moral legitimacy,” Minister Ranawaka told the Daily News. “Individual countries will take action against individuals as well as against the country as a whole. Therefore, we have to prepare to face this challenge as a country and as a society.
Some are fixated on destabilising and derailing the country and transforming Sri Lanka into another Afghanistan,” he said.
Minister Ranawaka said western powers are now trying to contain our country and are expanding the charge sheet. “Earlier they were talking about accountability and now they talk about religious harmony and other matters. In this way, they are expanding the charge sheet against our country and through it, trying to gain moral legitimacy for their future actions”.
The minister said their propaganda tools such as the Qatar based Al-Jazeera, British based BBC and the US based CNN were fabricating wild allegations against the Sinhala Buddhist community in Sri Lanka to justify Jihadist groups to operate in Sri Lanka.
July 1st, 2014 at 10:55 pm
Lorenzo,
We are not talking about the same thing.
Dividing and conquering terrorist groups within SL is not the same as SL going out of its way to sponsor terrorism in other countries.
Once we do that, we will labelled and despised the world over as untrustworthy devious people who should not be befriended by anyone.
July 2nd, 2014 at 3:53 am
Ananda,
I’m ONLY talking about Endia.
1. Actually it happened in 1980s.
The FORERUNNER to EPDP carried out BOMB ATTACKS in TN in 1980s targeting LTTE leaders. HON DOUGLAS DEVANANDA still has murder cases against him in Endian courts!
Anton Balla and Adel Anni NARROWLY escaped one such attack. (Had they died the war would have made a fantastic turn). But some LTTE leaders died in these attacks and FORCED Endia to CLOSE DOWN Tamil training camps in Endia.
2. In 2006 Pakistan appointed the former ISI boss as SL’s Pak HC. He had carried out MANY terrorist strikes on Endia. GOSL was under pressure from Endia NOT to accept his credentials. But MR accepted him. FOR ENDIA it was a HIGHLY DANGEROUS act of siding with the enemy. Endia BOMBED his car in Colombo using its cat’s paw LTTE. But he survived. That got Endia thinking and soon FREE Endian weapons came to SL army.
Whether SL follows the DHAMMA or follows these tactics the WEST and Endia will always brand us devious people with a HORRENDOUS HR record. The EAST will be friendly with SL NO MATTER WHAT. So I do not place much on what they think.
July 2nd, 2014 at 12:29 pm
Lorenzo and Ananda: Right now Sri Lanka claims a maritime boundary that is seven times her land size. based on one kilometer of seabed soil Sri Lanka has applied to the ISA (International Seabed Authority) to increase her claim that would expand Sri Lanka’s maritime claim to 23 times her land size. It will most likely be approved.
If so it will give Sri Lanka access to under sea gas and oil deposits as well as the nascent industry of undersea mining of metals including rare earth minerals essential for the military and other advanced fields of technology.
In the 21st century a nation who can claim so much of the sea which will be counted as part of that nation’s “territory” would open up immense opportunities to Sri Lanka and the world will take notice of that.
July 2nd, 2014 at 2:14 pm
BW,
SL NAVY should have blue water capabilities to look after its territory.
That also creates a MASSIVE THREAT. A POTENTIAL split of SL into SL and TE will give TE an ENORMOUS territory much more valuable than SL has from a military POV. That will fuel TE demands and international support for it.