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Lanka got fewer benefits from Belt and Road Initiative due to anti-China environment created here – CP

Published

2 years ago

2023/12/31

APF members at a recent press conference on the BRI

In comparison with other countries, Sri Lanka had received fewer benefits from the Belt and Road Initiative, with investments amounting to 14 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), the Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPSL) affiliated Asia Progress Forum (APF) said.

The investments made by this Initiative in Laos and Cambodia are 140 percent and 60 percent, respectively of their GDPs, the APF said.

“This makes it clear that our country, which has over 2,000 years of relations with China, has benefitted very little from this Initiative. Moreover, the management of what we have already received has been sluggish and subject to discriminatory treatment, the APF said. The activities of the Colombo Port City may be cited as an example.”

Given below are excerpts of the APF statement: “Sri Lanka has received a low level of investment, as detailed above, because of its unstable policy situation and the anti-Chinese environment which has been created by Western vested interests. Fictional narratives such as “Chinese colony” and “Chinese debt-trap” have been publicised to the very highest level in our country. Fake narratives, such as “the Belt and Road Initiative strengthens autocracies,” have also been spread.

What is the autocracy which has been created by this Initiative in our country? Aren’t the United States and its allied Western countries the ones which interfere in our internal politics? Only about 10 percent of the foreign loans received by Sri Lanka have come from China. Yet over 42 percent are represented by short-term International Sovereign Bonds, for which high-interest loans have come from the capital markets of the West, including (prominently) the USA. Some 16 percent has been obtained by loans from multi-lateral institutions such as the World Bank.

“From this perspective, the loans received from the West total 58 percent. With the loan taken from the Paris Club, this figure exceeds 70 percent. This does not include loans from India. Nevertheless, the fictional “China debt-trap” narrative is what has been pushed in Sri Lanka.

“If not for the fake information and the wrong impression they create, we could have obtained considerable benefits from the Belt and Road Initiative, conditional on a stable policy framework. Chinese President Xi Jinping has clarified eight major steps for the future of the Belt and Road Initiative, from which we can get an idea of ways that Sri Lanka could benefit. In future this initiative will be multi-dimensional, encompassing land, sea and air.

“In the next five years, China will aid the openness of the world economy with $37 trillion in trade. In addition to large-scale projects such as those that were carried out hitherto, “small, but smart” livelihood programmes will also be promoted. This initiative will enhance green development and scientific and technological innovations. China will support the development of people-to-people connectivity and civilisational interaction. China is carrying out Belt and Road Initiative cooperation, based upon interconnectedness, as well as establishing institutions for international cooperation.

“We can expect Sri Lanka to receive benefits from the Belt and Road Initiative by basing itself on the above policy framework. Under this, we can expect a wide variety of activities, including establishing an Ocean University and vocational and technological educational institutes, village development, entering the Chinese market, and developing health, sports and recreation, media and communications, literature and arts, religious relations, care for the elderly and people-to-people connectivity.

The world order, which developed in a bipolar mode after the Second World War and in a unipolar mode after the fall of the Soviet Union, is being transformed to a multi-polar character by the Belt and Road Initiative. Western imperialism is weakening within this new international alignment, founded on the different world zones. Unable to tolerate these changes, the Western camp is promoting fictional narratives and relentless criticism of the Belt and Road Initiative. Having suffered under Western Imperialism for over 500 years, we should not be deceived by this propaganda. Basing ourselves on our own sovereignty, we should maximise the benefits we can receive from the Belt and Road Initiative.”

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PM meets Sri Lankan community living in London

Published

26 mins ago

2026/05/21

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is currently on an official visit to the United Kingdom, met with members of the Sri Lankan community living in London on Wednesday [20th] and engaged in cordial discussions.

Despite the event being held on a weekday, it was notable that nearly one thousand Sri Lankans representing the Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim communities attended with great enthusiasm.

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that despite natural disasters and international crises, the present government has succeeded in stabilizing the country’s economy while providing relief to the people. She further noted that Sri Lanka’s political culture has now undergone a positive transformation that is irreversible.

Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj, addressing the event, stated that a governance system has now been established in the country where all communities are treated equally and the benefits of economic development are shared fairly among all citizens.

Moving away from the traditional method of political gatherings, the event also provided an open platform for members of the Sri Lankan community to directly raise questions and express their views to the Prime Minister and the Minister.

Commenting on the organization of the event, the organizing committee stated that all expenses, including dinner, were borne by the participants themselves. The organizers further remarked that it is unsurprising that opposition groups, accustomed to organizing such events through the misuse of public funds, appear unsettled by this transparent process.

The occasion was attended by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimal Senadheera.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya meets Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom

Published

10 hours ago

2026/05/21

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya currently undertaking an official visit to London, United Kingdom, to participate in the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting 2026 held a bilateral meeting with the Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom ON Wednesday [20]. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimal Senadheera, along with officials from the Sri Lankan High Commission.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister conveyed Sri Lanka’s appreciation to the United Kingdom for the support extended in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwa, including ongoing rebuilding and recovery assistance. The Prime Minister also commended the United Kingdom’s support in facilitating increased bilateral trade and exports for Sri Lanka.

The Prime Minister briefed the UK delegation on Sri Lanka’s recent economic developments and policy priorities, the Government’s commitment to advancing human rights and reconciliation, as well as Sri Lanka’s positive growth trajectory.

The two sides also exchanged views on current global geopolitical developments, challenges in the energy sector, and the importance of enhancing regional connectivity and long-term energy security.

Both sides also emphasised the importance of strengthening structured academic mobility frameworks while ensuring fairness, clarity, and integrity within migration systems.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries in areas of mutual interest.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

Suspects involved in sureties controversy granted bail

Published

16 hours ago

2026/05/21

Sahan Weerasooriya

Kapila Chandrasena

Airbus bribe case:

Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva yesterday (20) granted bail to Mohamed Riswan and Mohamed Irshan, who allegedly received money to stand as sureties for the late former SriLankan Airlines CEO, Kapila Chandrasena. They were identified as residents of Sanchi Arachchi Watta, situated next to the Hulftsdorp court complex.

Chandrasena was found dead at his brother-in-law, Aravinda De Silva’s residence, at No. 38, Pedris Road, Kollupitiya, on 8 May.

The Magistrate also granted bail to B. A. Tissa and Perumal Ganesh, who arranged for Riswan and Irshan to stand as sureties for Chandrasena, who is under investigation for allegedly receiving a USD 2 million bribe through his wife to facilitate an Airbus deal. They, too, residents of Sanchi Arachchi Watta, were granted bail on two personal bail of Rs. 500,000 each.

Airbus had to pay USD 4 billion in penalties after admitting it had paid huge bribes to secure contracts in 20 countries. Sri Lanka is among them.

The Magistrate directed that the Grama Niladhari should certify their residence and the relevant certificates submitted to court and to establish the financial status of those who stood as sureties for the four persons.

The court was told that Mohamed Riswan and Mohamed Irshan obtained 17 Grama Niladhari certificates from January till May 2026. On the basis of a statement recorded from Keselwatta Grama Niladhari S. Nilantha Silva police informed court that the first suspect had obtained 10 certificates and the second person seven.

Fourth suspect Ganesh had first met those who stood as sureties, on 05 May, in the court premises and struck the deal. Crime OIC of Keselwatta Police, Sub Inspector K.W.D. Anuruddha, told court that Mohamed Riswan, Mohamed Irshan and B. A. Tissa hadn’t even known who Chandrasena was and were not related to him in anyway, according to investigations. Police requested that the four persons be further remanded.

The Magistrate granted them bail and set the next hearing for 25 June.

Legal sources said that such illegal practices were rampant, and in this particular case the Court Registrar should have been able to see that the sureties were very much unlikely to be relatives of Chandrasena.

By Shamindra Ferdinando