Fifty Years of Friendship and Solidarity

Sri Lanka–Bangladesh 50th Anniversary

Speech delivered recently by
Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne
High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Bangladesh
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Bhutan

The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Bangladesh together with its fraternal partner, the High Commission of Bangladesh in Sri Lanka are pleased to share with our well-wishers this landmark event celebrating 50 years of friendship and solidarity. As an initiative taken by our two Missions, the anniversary will be celebrated throughout this year on various topical areas ranging from investments to culture. It is expected to be a common platform reaching out to our valued communities.

Relationships between our lands go beyond 50 years of its modern-day connectivity. Vangadesha and Tambapanni are historic lands proud of their ancestry and culture dating back to C. 600 BCE. That matrix shaped and cemented our commonalities, culture and above all our shared destinies. It was nurtured within the oceanicscape of the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. Pre-modern connectivity is seen through the lens of trade exchange, religion, dance, poetry as our shared heritage. Eventually, we overcame colonial occupation culminating in the rise of independent sovereign and democratic states known as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The sustainable relationship between two lands and their cultures cannot be gauged by abstract situations and simple statistics of the political-economy. It is something far more sensitive, durable and tangible. It is best seen as a symbiotic relationship reaching out to each other with respect. Our destinies, our past, present and future are essentially interdependent. In my short presentation unfolding our relationship, I will speak of past experience, present interaction and the way forward towards a shared future.

Past experience

Legend has it that around C. 6^th Century BCE, a prince from Vangadesha arrived in Tambapanni and married a princess from that island. The legend is found in the Pali texts in Sri Lanka datable to c. 4^th Cent. CE. The chronicled legend is a reflection of preexisting early oceanic connectivity on trade and cultural exchange between the two ends of the Bay of Bengal. The archaeological record provides far more tangible evidence from ancient material culture. It sheds light on a trading vortex based on luxury commodities such as, pearls, chank (conch shell), ivory, precious stone, metallic resources, sandalwood being some of the traded items mediated through merchants and mariners of our lands.

Intense convergence of trade in the Bay of Bengal witnessed economic and religio-cultural interactions during the Middle Historic period reaching higher levels. Buddhism was a primary medium that carried the message of culture and civilizations to both lands. It endowed a rich doctrinal knowledge of Theravada and Mahayana traditions. The historic material culture and the living traditions of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh reflect the pristine sentiments embedded in the cultures of these lands. Medieval texts in Sri Lanka record movements of Buddhist monks and merchants traversing the waters of the Bay of Bengal as goodwill envoys exchanging ideas, culture and commodities.

A deeper history between our two lands unfolded itself in the Colonial period. They are represented in aesthetically pleasing folk dance, folklore, poems, songs and village games embedded as an inherent part of the Sri Lankan culture. For instance, the dances representing Olinda songs and Bangalu walalu or bangles of Bengal are good examples.

Late Colonial and the rise of nationalism in the subcontinent witnessed a closer affinity with the culture of Bengal through the medium of art forms, songs, dance and education. Gurudev Rabinranath Tagore was the catalyst that forged a renaissance culture carving a permanent conduit between our lands. Rabindra sangeet and dance forms inspired the poetic expression of Sri Lankan artists such as Sunil Shanta and a host of others nurturing a permanent niche for itself within the Sri Lankan ethos.

Present Interaction

The contemporary period witnessed Sri Lanka and Bangladesh rising from multiple adverse situations. Both countries have a chequered history emerging from colonial oppression, natural disasters and terrorism. Our people rose again from ashes and destruction with greater resilience.

Today our two countries maintain a healthy relationship with each sharing common goals “for our people and the region”. We celebrate shared sentiments of mutuality over economic and cultural aspirations. Our two leaders hold each other with trust and consider each country in the highest esteem as kin-countries and as most trusted friends. We stand together at good times and take equal care of each other and ungrudgingly extending a magnanimous hand of solidarity and assistance at times of adversity.

Today we are at the threshold of entering a new era of cooperation and solidarity. The philosophy driving our engagement in Bangladesh is a two way process establishing a healthy working relationship. This philosophy is based on a symbiotic relationship of interdependence and mutual respect for each other and not one based on patron – client relationship. This synergy it fact presents itself how Bangladesh provided a conducive environment and safe haven for Sri Lankan investments and in turn how Sri Lankan professionals invested towards the growth of Bangladesh.

This mutuality evolved over some 40 odd years ago when Sri Lankan capital, expertise and technical know-how contributed towards a takeoff point in the apparel industry of Bangladesh which is now the primary provider to the world. As of now, Sri Lankan Investment amounts to around 2.5 billion US$ and some of the companies represent high-end professionals as CEO’s and middle management technocrats. They are mainly based in Dhaka and Chittagong roughly amounting to about 2000 individuals. Sri Lankan blue-chip companies cover banking, biscuits, gas, power and energy, apparel, shipping & logistics, health care, management and investment to mention a few. There are at least 25 cluster groups with 100% owned, 75% subsidiaries with controlling power around 80%. HE. Prime Minister Sheik Hasina personally conveyed to me how Sri Lankan professionals have provided a major value-added service to the Bangladesh economy. Her Excellency is hoping there will be a further investment flow into Bangladesh, especially in education and hospitals. Bangladesh has rewarded Sri Lankan professionals with upper-level salary scales and other remunerations.

Similarly, the goodwill mutual gesture of military training by each country and the Scholarship program for medical students’ endowed by Bangladesh are laudable.

Our engagements from the Mission in Dhaka were not deterred due to the pandemic. The planning of new initiatives were placed on track in the past two years. From the Sri Lankan end, our new investment plans have chalked out a long list of programs on two-way engagements. These largely cover Trade and Investments, Tourism, Shipping and aviation, agriculture, education, heritage and culture and health among other areas. A team of Travel writers and Tour operators from Bangladesh are currently touring Sri Lanka. An expanded plan on eco-tourism, sporting events and high end corporate tourism are on track. Events such as food festivals, investment sessions, IT-based operations, gems, tea and renewable energy initiatives are on the cards.

Aviation and shipping are making headway with official discussions at the ministerial level on coastal shipping, mutual birthing rights and warehouse facilities which are under discussion. Private sector shipping companies from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka most recently commenced working on joint ventures and the Government-owned shipping Corporations are working together. As for reverse investments, it is heartening to learn that Bangladesh has lifted the restriction of movement of capital as FDI’s. Though limited there was an outflow of FDI’s to Sri Lanka between 2005 and 2019 amounting to around 4 million US$. Sri Lanka is looking towards initial investments from Bangladesh and we have on track tourism, shipping, and pharma. We also need to strike a balance between the two brother nations so that trade balance needs to be rectified. As of now, the trade balance is in favour of Sri Lanka at 105 million US$. The near completion of the PTA will provide greater opportunities for closing the uneven flow.

Way forward towards
a shared future

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka need to prosper together. We also need to take care of each other in a newly evolving globalized world. We are also stakeholders of the larger family represented by the SAARC. BIMSTEC and IORA. As such, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka essentially need to see themselves as strategic partners. This partnership becomes imperative as our alignment revolves around the protection of the seascape embracing the two lands. One of the focal points and dynamics of the global power blocks is their engagement and aspirations in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. The hinterland is a physical area that could be protected and managed by the respective states. We are now witnessing a sharply evolving competitive spirit that is setting the tone for the future of South Asia. The global neoliberal political and economic order is beginning to aggressively impact our region. It may effectively alter the balance of power and cordiality within the South Asian neighbourhood. Its impact is mainly felt over the seascape of the Bay of Bengal.

Our two lands hold an equally important role at the two strategic ends of the Bay of Bengal representing the “gateway” entry and exit points to the larger World systems. The Bay of Bengal essentially is an Oceanic highway. As such, the futuristic staying power and sustenance of our two countries revolve around the protection of the seascape of the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. It is now recognized that the Bay of Bengal is one of the richest resource areas in the world. Hence the high competitive premium placed on its natural and human wealth.

Bay of Bengal has wider ramifications. It provides entrée to a total oceanic eco-system associated with its residential community who are equal stakeholders to this oceanic repository. This implies common ownership to its total ecology: the wind, solar, aquatic and sub-surface mineral resources. It presents unison and not segments compartmentalized along narrow political fault lines or contours of hegimonic economic interests.

Most recently discussions feature the Centrality of the Bay of Bengal as a connectivity Hub for the Indo-Pacific Region and the Indian Ocean. There are also discussions on the Bay of Bengal Oceanic community. As equal stake holders Sri Lanka could collaborate with Bangladesh for studies on sustainable heritage economy and Bay of Bengal studies.

Bay of Bengal needs to be seen as an integral component of the IOR, where Both, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are member of IORA. Taking a leaf out of the IORA, our two countries could steer towards (i) Maritime Safety & Security (ii) Trade & Investment (iii) Fisheries Management (iv) Disaster Risk Management (V) Academic, Science & Technology (vi) Tourism & Cultural Exchanges while Gender Empowerment is a significant area of engagement. If this is adhered to, it will be a permanent legacy of our trans-oceanic connectivity representing best of Track 2 & 3 Diplomacy.

This ideal finds expression in the “blue economy” or the ocean industry. The Blue Economy envisages the sustainable harvesting of our oceanic resources. In 2017 this idea was narrowed down to the Bay of Bengal by Abdullahel Bari from Bangladesh calling it “Our Ocean and the Blue Economy: Opportunities and Challenges” with special reference to Bangladesh.

Ocean industry has wider implications to both countries for its future planning, which essentially calls for joint studies. Both countries face security risks and over-exploitation of aquatic resources. In 2019 David Brewster suggested an Indian Ocean Security Forum as a regional agenda for Geo-Environmental Security Challenges. Such security risks may spill across geophysical boundaries and trigger off conflict areas. An allied opportunity is seen with the Tri-continental Maritime Security Cooperation (since 2013) where Bangladesh needs to be a full-time partner along with Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives. Most recent discussions also highlight the need to make the Bay of Bengal a zone of Peace so as to neutralize big power competition and also as a strategic philosophy on oceanic studies. Both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka must work together to realize such ideals.

In view of this, we wish to suggest a broader action plan incorporating a value-added purview of Oceanic Studies for the Bay of Bengal and as an engagement by its Oceanic community. A joint policy charted by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for sustainable environmental development is one way forward how the oceanic front of Bay of Bengal is treated with sensitivity, protected and nurtured as a priority agenda by our two nations. It is about humanizing social, economic, and cultural interactions within a sustainable environment. It is seen as an alternative to development imposed from above on unequal partners in the global world. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka need to be key partners in realizing such an ideal.

Conclusion

Excellences’, ladies and gentlemen my officers at the Sri Lanka High Commission in Bangladesh join me in wishing another 50 years of friendship and solidarity between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as a gift to our people and to the world.

May I sign off with the sentiment, Mage Suwarnabhumi Sri Lanka (my golden Sri Lanka) and Amar sonar Bangla (my Golden Bangla)