News
Modi ready to finalise Security Cooperation Agreement
Following talks with AKD
… decision on moratorium on foreign research vessels pending
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has disclosed a bilateral consensus on what he called ‘Security Cooperation Agreement’ with Sri Lanka following discussions he had with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.According to the English translation of Premier Modi’s statement originally made in Hindi at the joint media briefing held on Dec 16, the proposed agreement would be finalised soon.
The statement quoted Premier Modi as having said that they were in full agreement their security interests were interconnected. “We have decided to quickly finalise the Security Cooperation Agreement. We have also agreed to cooperate on hydrography,” the BJP leader was quoted as having said.
However, according to Indo-Lanka joint statement titled ‘Fostering Partnerships for a Shared Future’ that was also issued on the same day, the two leaders agreed to look into the possibility of finalising a framework agreement on defence cooperation.
Defence hadn’t been separately included in the joint statement that was issued following former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to New Delhi in July last year.
The proposed ‘Security Cooperation Agreement’ had been comprehensively dealt under ‘Strategic & Defence Cooperation’ with the leaders declaring readiness to advance maritime and security collaboration.
During President Dissanayake’s recent state visit to India, New Delhi had obviously again raised objections to Chinese research vessels visiting Sri Lankan ports. Indian Foreign
Secretary Vikram Misri dealt with this issue during a special media briefing held the day after the issuance of a joint statement.
Keshav Padmanabhan of The Print asked the Foreign Secretary whether berthing of research vessels at Sri Lankan ports had been taken up with President Dissanayake. Padmanabhan also wanted to know whether Sri Lanka has extended its moratorium on such visits by another year.
President Wickremesinghe declared a moratorium on research ship visits in 2024.
The transcript of the Foreign Secretary’s briefing quoted Misri as having said “With regard to the issue related to the berthing of research vessels, etc., our understanding is that the Sri Lankan government is looking at this issue.
There are a number of considerations that they need to take into account. We did highlight from our perspective the role that India could play in a number of activities related to Maritime Security, Maritime Research, etc.
As I mentioned in my earlier remarks as well, we pointed to the importance and the sensitivity of our security interests in this area. President Dissanayake was very upfront in saying that he would ensure that nothing was done by using Sri Lankan territory that might impact India’s security. So, we will continue to engage with the government of Sri Lanka on all these issues and we are confident that issues of importance such as these will continue to be given due care by the government of Sri Lanka.”
National People’s Power (NPP) government is yet to indicate its position on Wickremesinghe moratorium on ships. Wickremesinghe made the announcement following intense US and Indian pressure over Chinese ship visits to Hambantota and Colombo harbours. However, the then Foreign Minister Ali Sabry declared during an official visit to Tokyo that the moratorium would end at the end of this year.
Foreign Secretary Misri is on record as having told the New Delhi briefing that there had been a session of restricted talks between President Dissanayake and Premier Modi at the Hyderabad House before delegation-level talks.
President Dissanayake told the joint media briefing that they carried out a comprehensive review of the current status of Indo-Lanka relations and exchanged views on the ways and means of further strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest in the future.
Although there had been no mention of a Security Cooperation Agreement, President Dissanayake said that they exchanged views on cooperation in the fields of defence and security, power and energy, training and capacity building, education, agriculture and social security.
There has been a noticeable increase in the spread of Chikungunya in the city of Colombo, Kotte, and the suburbs of Colombo, according to the Health Ministry.
As of 14 March, the Weekly Epidemiological Report says 173 chikungunya cases have been reported from Colombo, Gampaha, and Kandy.
Acting Consultant Community Physician of the Ministry of Health Dr. Kumudu Weerakoon said that the Chikungunya virus had spread to Sri Lanka in 1960.
Meanwhile, Dr. Deepal Perera, Consultant Paediatrician at Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, Colombo, told The Island yesterday that there had been an increase in the number of children affected by Chikungunya.
“To tackle this situation, it is extremely important to keep your homes, doorways, and school premises clean regularly,” he said.
“If a child has fever lasting more than two days, darkening around the nose, or joint pain, these could be symptoms of Chikungunya. In such cases, take the child to a doctor. Chikungunya is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The joint pain can persist for months. Therefore, we strongly urge both children and adults to take all precautions to avoid contracting Chikungunya.”
By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon and Chaminda Silva
‘Genocide Memorial’ in Canada
Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown has slammed SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa over the latter’s recent statement regarding the monument that was inaugurated in Canada commemorating the victims of the final stages of the North East conflict.
In a statement on ‘X’, Brampton Mayor, Patrick Brown said, “The Rajapaksas’ opposition to the Tamil Genocide Memorial is the surest signal that we are on the right path recognising the innocent civilian lives lost at the hands of this family.”
Patrick Brown further said that if confident that no genocide occurred, the Rajapaksa family should fully cooperate with the International Criminal Court rather than obstructing justice and hiding from prosecution.
“This is their Nuremberg moment, and instead of facing accountability, this family hides in luxury protected by the Sri Lankan state. It’s shameful. The crimes against humanity committed by the Rajapaksa family rival Pol Pot, Slobodan Milosevic, Heinrich Himmler, and Flicien Kabuga. It’s a badge of honour that they object to our Canadian Tamil Genocide Memorial,” he added.
His remarks came in response to SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa’s recent statement that it was concerning that Canada has inaugurated a Tamil
Genocide Memorial when, under international law, no genocide has been proven or can be proven against the Sri Lankan military in its conflict with the LTTE terrorists.
“The so-called Tamil genocide monument appears to be a politically driven move by the Canadian government, which has long been influenced by certain factions within the Tamil diaspora. Rather than working towards peace and unity, these groups have fueled division for their own interests,” MP Rajapaksa said, in a statement on ‘X’.
Custodial death of domestic worker
The Colombo High Court yesterday fixed July 21 as the date for the pre-trial conference on a case filed against three police officers attached to the Welikada Police over the custodial death of a domestic worker in 2023.
When the case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge R.S.S. Sapuwida, Defence counsel informed court that they had not received some of the documents submitted in relation to the case. The judge instructed the State Counsel to ensure that the necessary documents were made available to the defence.
After considering all facts presented, the judge scheduled the pre-trial conference for July 21.
The victim, 41-year-old R. Rajakumari, a resident of Badulla, was arrested on May 11, 2023, following a complaint by her employer, Sudharma Nethicumara, alleging the theft of gold jewellery.
Rajakumari later died while in custody at the Welikada Police Station. Her family raised concerns over the circumstances that had led to her death, alleging that she may have been assaulted.
Later a disciplinary action was initiated against seven officers attached to the Welikada Police. A Sub-Inspector, two sergeants, and a constable were interdicted, while another constable and two Women Police Constables were transferred for the same reason.
BY AJA Abeynayake
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