Ex-CBSL Deputy Governor backs AKD’s ETCA move 

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Executive Director of Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute (LKI) Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha strongly asserted that Sri Lanka shouldn’t under any circumstances align with the US, China or India.

Aryasinha, who had served as Foreign Secretary during the presidencies of Maithripala Sirisena and Gotabaya Rajapaksa underscored the need not to antagonize any country.

Briefly referring to Sri Lanka’s relations with India and China, the one-time Ambassador in Washington, as well as top envoy in Geneva, emphasized that Sri Lanka couldn’t choose between China and India. “I wouldn’t want to make that choice. I think we need to respect each for their contribution to us,” Ambassador Aryasinha said, warning of far reaching consequences of being aligned with one country.

The LKI chief said so at the conclusion of a discussion on Indo-Lanka relations organized by Nexus Research, backed by One-text Initiative, at the 80 Club recently.

The opening remarks were made by Nexus Chairman, Prof. Charitha Herath, and the two-hour discussion was moderated by Nexus Director, Karunarathna Paranawithana, both former lawmakers.

Ambassador Aryasinha explained his position after former Deputy Governor, CBSL Dr. W.A. Wijewardena, and Executive Director of the Centre for Law and Security, Studies Nilanthan Niruthan, declared their support for alignment with Narendra Modi’s India.

Dr. Wijewardena didn’t mince his words when he declared that Sri Lanka should jump on the bandwagon. Commending President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for resuming talks on the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with New Delhi, the senior economist declared that we couldn’t do without India.

Having briefly dealt with the Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement of 1998, talks on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) that had been undertaken during Ranil Wickremesinghe premiership but never materialized, and resumption of talks with India on CEPA, with it been rebranded ETCA, Dr. Wijewardena alleged the UNP leader didn’t have the strength to go ahead with it.

Ravinatha

The former CBSL Deputy Governor emphasized that India was so far ahead and further expanding rapidly Sri Lanka should align with them without delay.

Niruthan censured Sri Lanka’s approach towards foreign relations with the focus on what he described as the pathetic failure on the part of successive governments to think and act strategically. Alleging that Sri Lanka pursued policy without really understanding what he called the larger picture.

In support of his argument that Sri Lanka should align with India, Niruthan mentioned Israel as well as Japan and South Korea immensely. Declaring that non-alignment is irrelevant today, Niruthan, throughout his thought-provoking presentation, emphasized the need to go with what he called a strategic swing state.

 Attorney-at-Law Shiral Lakthilaka questioned why Sri Lanka, too, couldn’t be a strategic swing state like India. Niruthan explained as to why bankrupt Sri Lanka couldn’t achieve that status.

The Island

sought Niruthan’s opinion on major discrepancy in the joint communique issued following President Dissanayake’s meeting with Premier Modi and the latter’s statement at the joint press conference in respect of the proposed Security Cooperation Agreement (SCA).

While the joint communique proposed that the two governments examine the possibility of concluding a comprehensive framework agreement on defence cooperation, Premier Modi declared that they decided to quickly finalize the proposed SCA. Niruthan opinionated that we should go by the joint communique.

The gathering was also reminded that India couldn’t absolve itself of the responsibility for carrying out a terrorist campaign here in the ’80s.

Commenting on the joint communique issued by China and Sri Lanka following talks between President Jinping and President Dissanayake, Niruthan compared Sri Lanka’s position in 2023 and 2025 in respect to Taiwan. Having previously accepted the One-China policy, the new government had gone a step further by declaring support for all efforts by China to achieve national reunification and opposed Taiwan seeking independence in any form.

In terms of the China-Sri Lanka joint communique, Sri Lanka would have to back Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Declaring that the China-Taiwan conflict is one of the three major issues that dominated the world today, Northam stressed that Sri Lanka, according to the joint communique, had taken a clear stand on the issue involving China.

The two other major issues were the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Israel war on Gaza, Niruthan said, pointing out Sri Lanka strongly backed Palestine. Therefore, Sri Lanka had taken a clear stand on two of the three major issues and Sri Lanka was on the China-Russia alliance side.

Appreciating growing Indian power at global level, Niruthan explained the strategic swinging state India simultaneously be part of BRICS as well as Quad. According to Niruthan, Sri Lanka’s alignment with India wouldn’t endanger us in the global arena whereas alignment with either the US or China would place us firmly in a block.

Among those who expressed views on Indo-Lanka relations and way forward were Prof. Rohan Samarajeewa, former Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, and ex-State Minister Eran Wickremaratne. Former lawmaker Mrs. Ferial Ashraff was also present.

Niruthan dealt with growing external Indian military action and interventions/rescue operations under Premier Modi’s leadership. During Modi’s rule more operations were carried out, much more than all past governments had done. Although Niruthan gave specific examples of such actions, there was no reference to Indian intervention in Sri Lanka and the Maldives where Indian-trained Sri Lankan terrorists made an abortive attempt to assassinate President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in Nov, 1988.

Niruthan also discussed the Indian nuclear capabilities while comparing them with other world powers, including members of the Security Council. Special mention was made of the Indian nuclear triad (capability to strike back in spite of being attacked with nuclear weapons. Unlike the UK, India could act on its own in case of a nuclear situation, Niruthan declared, while underscoring how Sri Lanka could benefit immensely from a permanent partnership with India.

Ambassador Aryasinha stressed the pivotal importance of Chinese support during Sri Lanka’s war against the LTTE that was brought to a successful conclusion while Dr. Wijewardena pointed out problems experienced when procuring armaments from China, particularly due to payment issues.

China and Pakistan steadfastly backed Sri Lanka’s war against separatist terrorism.