Can President Sirisena revive India-Sri Lanka trade relations?
During the visit by Sri Lanka’s new President Sirisena, India must ensure that it enjoys the most favoured treatment, by keeping the Chinese dragon, preferred by former President Rajapakse, at bay!
 
Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to visit India next week. This will be his first foreign visit as President, and he is expected to arrive in New Delhi on 16th February. The exact itinerary has not yet been announced, but at least a day will be set aside by President Sirisena to visit Buddhist sites on a personal pilgrimage.  This visit is considered very significant as he has made it clear that he wishes to start his relations with India on a clean slate, and, in the process, wipe out any misunderstandings that his predecessor, Mahinda Rajapakse had helped to "create".
 
It may be recalled that former President Mahinda Rajapakse had shown clear "tilt" towards China, though, to make amends, he had claimed that "India is a relative, while China is a friend". During his tenure, China made great inroads into Sri Lanka, and was even able to dock in their submarines, much to the discomfort of India. China received a number of projects during his regime.
 
Sri Lanka’s new Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who also made his first foreign visit as Minister, reiterated the significance and importance attached to India, and in strengthening and improving bilateral ties with the country, as the relation between the two has been going on for more than 2,500 years.
 
In the meanwhile, even before he arrives in India, next week, for discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Sri Lankan President has ordered a complete review of all Chinese infrastructural project contracts awarded to them under Rajapakse's tenure.  It must be remembered, that Sirisena is scheduled to visit China, sometimes in May this year, for which dates have not been finalized.  It is therefore unclear whether he will visit China before or after PM Modi visits that country!
 
Since Narendra Modi will be reciprocating this visit, sometimes in March, it is hoped that both the leaders will have serious discussions through which India can extend all the needed help and assistance to Sri Lanka in rebuilding the war torn northern parts of that country so as to bring relief to the Tamil minority population that lives there.  There is tremendous scope for Indian involvement in total rebuilding activities in terms of infrastructure, road building, and construction of schools, bridges and assist the local population in setting up various small scale industries. India could supply a full range of steel products, agricultural implements, tractors, and even help in taping water resources in that country.
 
This is an opportunity for India to truly show that it will remain a big brother to Sri Lanka in every possible way and they, in turn, must ensure India enjoys the most favoured treatment, by keeping the Dragon at bay!
 
(AK Ramdas has worked with the Engineering Export Promotion Council of the ministry of commerce. He was also associated with various committees of the Council. His international career took him to places like Beirut, Kuwait and Dubai at a time when these were small trading outposts; and later to the US.)
Comments
vishal
10 years ago
past is past we should strive to develop our relations with Sri Lanka. Tanils in Sri Lanka are now better compared what it was during the period 1980 to 2009. Pakistan and China has a lot to gain by fomenting trouble for us in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka should understand this and should not spoil their relations with Indians on behalf of Tamils.
Dr Anantha K Ramdas
10 years ago
It is regretable to note the comments offered by the SLNBC. The writer has been associated with Sri Lanka for about thirty years now and not as "naive" as they claim.

By all means, every democratic country would love to visit and set up offices in this beautiful country with wonderful and friendly people. They are very hard working and down to earth, honest. India should do that do in the most competitive way possible.

But all the countries named do not have the same blood relation that India has with Sri Lanka. That, SLNBC, should make a big difference. For reasons known to one and all, unfortunately, the northern Sri Lanka was neglected, and President Sirisena has shown his fairness in uplifting the masses down there. The Tamils in the north, no doubt, are the decendents of Tamil labour that went there to do the plantations due to British, but they are no longer to be treated as "Indian" Tamils, but Sri Lankan Tamil population with all rights and duties. So, let us not go into the history of how, why and what happened in the past. The best is start afresh and rebuild the nation, which is what, I think, President Sirisena wants to do. Please give him a chance.

We have to live in peace, with honour and respect and build our countries, together.
Dr Anantha K Ramdas
10 years ago
It is regretable to note the comments offered by the SLNBC. The writer has been associated with Sri Lanka for about thirty years now and not as "naive" as they claim.

By all means, every democratic country would love to visit and set up offices in this beautiful country with wonderful and friendly people. They are very hard working and down to earth, honest. India should do that do in the most competitive way possible.

But all the countries named do not have the same blood relation that India has with Sri Lanka. That, SLNBC, should make a big difference. For reasons known to one and all, unfortunately, the northern Sri Lanka was neglected, and President Sirisena has shown his fairness in uplifting the masses down there. The Tamils in the north, no doubt, are the decendents of Tamil labour that went there to do the plantations due to British, but they are no longer to be treated as "Indian" Tamils, but Sri Lankan Tamil population with all rights and duties. So, let us not go into the history of how, why and what happened in the past. The best is start afresh and rebuild the nation, which is what, I think, President Sirisena wants to do. Please give him a chance.

We have to live in peace, with honour and respect and build our countries, together.
SLNBC
10 years ago
Sri Lanka will be following Singapore type business, investment and development model and not aligned to any one nation or region. The writer is a bit naive and out of touch about globalization of modern business and finance. China, US, India, Japan, Germany etc can all be equal participants in economic development of region. Several US and Japanese companies are already looking at Sri Lanka as "Regional HQ" to manage business in India and rest of South Asia region.

Sri Lanka National Business Council
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