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FSP warns of Indian designs to swamp Sri Lanka

Published

1 year ago

2025/01/15

As many as 4,000 operatives of India’s top spy agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), are currently engaged in operations in Sri Lanka, the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) has claimed.

Addressing a seminar titled “Is India the Big Brother?” held at the Colombo Foundation Institute on Sunday, FSP’s Propaganda Secretary Duminda Nagamuwa alleged that the RAW operatives were facilitating India’s predatory projects aimed at seizing control of critical national assets, including oceans, energy, electricity, land, ports, and airports.

“India’s ambitions do not stop at economic deals but may ultimately threaten Sri Lanka’s sovereignty,” Nagamuwa warned, noting that during President Anura Kumara Disanayake’s recent visit to India from Dec. 15 to 17, discussions had been held regarding certain agreements with India. Initially, the government claimed that no agreements had been finalized, but later, Minister Vijitha Herath admitted to the media that an agreement had been reached to award the digital national identity card contract to an Indian company. “If implemented, this would pose a serious national security threat,” Nagamuwa warned.

Nagamuwa also highlighted that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe had agreed to designate 7,000 acres around Trincomalee, including its port, as an Indian economic zone. This allocation comprises 2,255 acres owned by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and 1,975 hectares occupied by fishing communities, potentially displacing 3,765 families. He added that the implementation of this plan has begun, under the current government, with the relocation of 114 families near the Lanka Bridge and Ashraff Jetty already underway, along with compensation payouts.

“India’s focus is currently on gaining control of Sri Lanka’s power grid,” Nagamuwa claimed, adding that a $12 million renewable energy project on the islands of Nainativu, Delft, Neduntivu, and Analaitivu was initially awarded to a Chinese company, Sinosar-Etechwin. However, following India’s protests, Gotabaya Rajapaksa had reversed the decision and granted the project to an Indian firm. Additionally, the Adani Group has secured approval to construct two wind power plants in Mannar and Pooneryn, generating 350 MW. Plans to expand this project to 20,000 MW could make Sri Lanka’s power sector heavily dependent on Adani, similar to its operations in Bangladesh, where the company controls 10% of electricity distribution, significantly influencing the country’s politics and economy.

Nagamuwa pointed out that the Trincomalee oil tank farm had been leased to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for 37 years, during which the company had utilised only 14 tanks. Agreements signed during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s administration extended the lease by another 50 years, transferring significant energy resources to India. Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera later revealed plans for an oil pipeline from Nagapattinam, in India, to Trincomalee, signaling further Indian control.

Nagamuwa alleged that India’s ambitions extended to major ports and airports, including Colombo and Trincomalee ports, and the Bandaranaike and Mattala airports. Adani was reportedly eyeing airports like Palaly for connectivity to New Delhi and Mumbai, he claimed. Plans are also underway for ferry services between Talaimannar-Rameshwaram and Nagapattinam-Kankesanthurai, along with high-speed road and rail links between the two countries.

“Meanwhile, India continues to press for the signing of the ETCA agreement, which goes beyond trade in goods to include services. While some argue that Sri Lankans could find employment in India, critics point to India’s high unemployment rates, which could lead to an influx of Indian labour into Sri Lanka, undercutting local wages and labour conditions,” Nagamuwa said.

Nagamuwa warned that those developments indicated a pattern of economic encroachment, reminiscent of China’s acquisition of the Hambantota Port after Sri Lanka failed to repay its loans. He cautioned that Sri Lanka risked losing control over its resources and infrastructure, undermining its energy independence and economic stability. “The current administration must recognize these threats and act to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty.”

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President meets senior officials of the Urban Development Authority

Published

51 mins ago

2026/05/18

Priyan

A discussion between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and senior officials of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) was held this afternoon (18) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The meeting focused extensively on new development projects planned by the Urban Development Authority. The President emphasised the need to ensure that the budgetary allocations made for these projects in the current year are utilised effectively within the same financial year.

Detailed discussions were also held on projects planned to be implemented jointly by multiple institutions, including the importance of holding consultations with all relevant agencies to reach final decisions and the need to clearly define responsibilities for each institution in both implementation and maintenance phases of the projects.

Attention was drawn to key initiatives such as the Kelani River flood control project, water management projects in Colombo city and the Beira Lake restoration project. The need for a dedicated programme for low-income housing in areas such as Ratmalana and Moratuwa was also highlighted. During the discussion, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake underscored the importance of introducing a structured management framework for the effective coordination of certain projects.

Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Eranga Gunasekara, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Senior Professor Kapila C.K. Perera, Chairman of the Urban Development Authority (UDA), M.G. Hemachandra and the Heads representing the Urban Settlement Development Authority (USDA), Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLDC), National Physical Planning Department (NPPD) and the Condominium Management Authority (CMA) were also present at the meeting.

(PMD)

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CEAT Kelani Branch Inter-Company Employees’ Union makes donation to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

55 mins ago

2026/05/18

Priyan

The Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the Kelaniya Branch of CEAT Sri Lanka has made a financial donation of Rs. 1,148,000.00, a day’s salary of its members to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund established to support the restoration of livelihoods and the rebuilding of areas affected by cyclone Ditwah.

Secretary of the Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the CEAT Kelani Branch, D.G.S.D. Navaratne, handed over the donation to the Chief of Staff to the President, Prabhath Chandrakeerthi at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (18).

Treasurer of the Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the CEAT Kelani Branch, Y.P.I.C. Karunathilaka, together with members of the Executive Committee, were also present on the occasion.

(PMD)

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Prime Minister off to the United Kingdom to participate in the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum

Published

3 hours ago

2026/05/18

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed on an official visit to the United Kingdom to participate in the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) 2026 Board of Governors Meeting.

During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to participate in several high-level academic and diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fields of education, development studies, research collaboration, and international partnerships.

As part of the visit, the Prime Minister will meet with Ms.Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education of the United Kingdom, at the UK Department for Education, to discuss areas of cooperation in education and related sectors. She is also expected to meet Ms.Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, for discussions on matters of bilateral interest and cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

In addition, the Prime Minister is expected to meet Ms.Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, on the sidelines of the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) 2026 Board of Governors Meeting.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will attend a public event at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex and she will also take part in the ceremony marking the 60th Anniversary of the Institute of Development Studies. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to address a session at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies at the University of Oxford, followed by a question-and-answer session with scholars and students.

The visit is expected to strengthen Sri Lanka’s engagement with academic institutions, international development partners, and Commonwealth member states, particularly in the areas of education, research, policy dialogue, and capacity building.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]