Nov 20, 2010

External dimensions

 Apart from internal political compulsions, Indo-Sri Lanka relations also have a context in India’s increasing concern at the growing Chinese presence in South Asia particularly its assertive stance and presence in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Colombo is aware of Indian sensitivity on the subject, which was probably once again stressed at Rajpaksa’s meeting in New Delhi.

            Sri Lanka-China relations are growing fast due to aggressive Chinese diplomacy as well as Colombo’s economic compulsions. So Colombo is probably being cautious in every action relating to China lest it affects its close relationship with India. This could be the reason for Sri Lanka to put a clamp on all information on Chinese activity in Sri Lanka including the number of Chinese workers, or details of progress on the projects the Chinese have taken up. Usually such information is freely available; it seems all government departments including Customs and Immigration appear to have been advised to keep mum on the subject. 

            At the same time Rajapaksa would like to continue to builder better relations with China as a strategic ploy to balance Indian dominance as well as for the economic largesse China had been dishing out to Sri Lanka. Close on the heels of October visit to India, Rajapaksa made a three-day visit to Beijing and met with Premier Wen Jiabao. According to media, Chinese Premier pledged to continue all development assistance to Sri Lanka. The two leaders discussed progress of development projects currently being carried out with the assistance of the Chinese Government. Wen also promised China's assistance to develop infrastructure, particularly the highway network and bridges. They also discussed on the Hambantota port development project, the largest project in Sri Lanka carried out with Chinese funding.

            Sri Lanka also needs continued Indian diplomatic support in handling its international relations which has run into a lot of opposition for its poor human rights record and for ignoring international allegations of war crimes. The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) constituted by the President to partially satisfy the international outcry has not met with large scale acceptance. This was highlighted during the month when three major INGOs - Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and International Crisis Group rejected Sri Lanka’s invitation to testify before the Commission. In a joint letter they contended the commission would not operate independently as some of its members were government servants during the war and it had no real mandate to probe alleged war crimes in the last stages of the Eelam War.

According to the United Nations, more than 7,000 civilians were killed in the last five months of the conflict. In June, the U.N. appointed a three-member panel to look into alleged violations of human rights and humanitarian laws. The US has also said the LLRC should identify those responsible for the serious violation of international humanitarian laws that occurred during the conflict. Sri Lanka has continued to ignore the issue claiming international moves as interference in its internal affairs. Significantly India has maintained a silent stance on the issue. This has encouraged Sri Lanka to maintain its hard stand.

NOV 2010