News
Between the lines in Indo-Lanka relations
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The idea that only a certain group of Sri Lankan leaders could address the international community was dispelled by president Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Indian visit, Ramindu Perera, senior lecturer at the Open University Law Faculty and a member of the Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) said.
Perera told the Sunday Island the shattering of this idea is not only good for the National People’s Power (NPP), but also for other political leaders who were not a part of a very small clique that dominated the positions that needed interaction with foreign governments.
“Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the main constituent of the NPP had an antagonistic relationship with India in the 1980s and a lot of people were curious how the NPP would interact with India and vice versa. However, now it’s obvious that states look beyond these things to further national interests,” he said.
Perera said that India is facing diplomatic challenges in the region. India’s relationship with Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal are tense these days. “Thus, India also needs
Sri Lanka. India needs to be sure that Sri Lanka too will not go against its geopolitical objectives,” he said. This might also be a reason why there was more openness to discuss the fishermen’s issue during the president’ s visit, he said.
President Dissanayake also paid a lot of attention in securing Indian guarantees that they will support Sri Lanka joining BRICS. Sri Lanka has formally begun the application process to join BRICS and the New Development Bank in October 2024.
“India has the power to influence international opinion. BRICS has currently stopped accepting new members. India has said they will support Sri Lanka’s membership when BRICS starts accepting new members again,” he said.
Commenting on the fact that the joint statement which followed President Dissanayake’s visit to India didn’t specifically mention the 13th amendment to the constitution, Perera said Prime Minister Modi didn’t raise the issue when Dissanayake visited India earlier this year as well.
“It is also obvious that India can’t use the same methods that they used in the past to influence Sri Lankan governments with regards to the 13th amendment to the constitution. Unlike previous governments, the NPP has also won the Tamil vote,” he said.
However, Sri Lanka needs to understand that India’s priority is its national interests and that the government must be careful in avoiding some proposals that will be detrimental to Sri Lanka’s national interest.
“For most of the proposals to have physical connectivity with India, the Sri Lankans have only agreed to ‘continue consideration. When we read between the lines it is obvious that the government’s strategy is to buy time with regards to Indian proposals that are detrimental to us,” he said.
Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (EJP) yesterday complained to the Election Commission (EC) regarding President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent threat that the government would release funds only to local government bodies to be won by a clean party at the May 06 LG polls.
The EJP, led by former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, complained that President Dissanayake has claimed during a public rally at Weligama that the NPP was the only clean party.
The EJP is contesting 37 LG bodies at the forthcoming election.
The new party said that the rights of the other contesting political parties and groups had been violated by the President.
The EJP asked the EC to ensure a level playing field
Having handed over their complaint, EJP spokesman Theekshana Gammanpila told the media outside the EC office that Anura Kumara Dissanayake had won last year’s presidential election and then the parliamentary election as the then government ensured a free and fair election. But now President Dissanayake was making a despicable attempt to influence the electorate in the run-up to the vital mini polls. Gammanpila alleged that the President’s intervention could have a far reaching impact on the electorate.
The EJP spokesman emphasised the responsibility on the part of the EC to intervene and take tangible measures to prevent President Dissanayake from manipulating the electorate to their advantage. (SF)
Former North Central Province Chief Minister S. M. Ranjith and his private secretary Shanthi, who is his brother, former Minister S.M. Chandrasena’s wife, were yesterday (02) sentenced to 16 years rigorous imprisonment after being found guilty of corruption charges. They were also ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 200,000 each.
The judgment was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendi.
They were convicted on charges filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.
S.M. Ranjith was found guilty of enabling Shanti to secure an additional fuel allowance between Sept 2012 and Dec 2014 to the tune of Rs 2.68 mn.
The Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka hosted a concert of Japanese traditional music by the Honganji Temple & Foundation Japanese Orchestra featuring the performers of NYSC on 28th March in honour of the visit of Most. Ven. Ohtani Chohjun Nayaka Hamuduruwo, the 25th Head Priest of Higashi Hongan-ji Grand Temple.
The event featured a Japanese tea ceremony and breathtaking musical performances by the Honganji Temple & Foundation Japanese Orchestra, showcasing traditional Japanese instruments such as the Koto and Shamisen. The evening was further enriched by violin and vibrant dance performances by students from the National Youth Council (NYSC) and Lanka Nippon Biztech Institute (LNBTI).
This cultural celebration further strengthened the deep ties between Japan and Sri Lanka, offering a unique experience of Japanese tradition and heritage.
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