The Sports Minister of Sri Lanka, Harin Fernando, recently made a controversial statement that has garnered significant attention in the media. As a responsible minister of a developing country like Sri Lanka, the gravity of his statement may have yet to be fully comprehended. However, his comments have shed light on the ongoing power struggles in the Indian Ocean.
Fernando’s statement highlights India’s unrelenting efforts to exert influence over its neighbouring countries. It is well-known that India has always sought to maintain its strategic dominance in the Indian Ocean region. This has been achieved through various means, including economic and military cooperation, cultural ties, and establishing military bases in key locations.
The Sri Lankan government has been under immense pressure from India to align its policies with its powerful neighbours. There have been instances in the past where India has used its economic clout to force Sri Lanka to adhere to its policies. For example, India has often leveraged its position as Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner to extract favourable terms in trade deals.
Fernando’s statement provides us with an opportunity to delve deeper into the complex power dynamics that exist in the Indian Ocean. It underscores the need for developing countries like Sri Lanka to tread carefully when dealing with powerful neighbours like India.
Minister says Sri Lanka is a part of India
In his statement, the Minister suggested that Sri Lanka has always been a part of India and that Indians should come and live in Sri Lanka. This statement has led to confusion amongst the Sri Lankan people, as they are still determining whether this is the official position of the Wickramasinghe government or simply the Minister’s personal opinion.
The ramifications of such a statement are significant. Sri Lanka is a proud nation with a rich history and culture, and the idea that it is somehow subordinate to India is not something that many Sri Lankans would agree with. Furthermore, the suggestion that Indians should come and live in Sri Lanka raises questions about immigration policy and the country’s ability to absorb new citizens.
Responding to the Minister’s statement, some individuals have taken legal action against him. They argue that the statement is problematic and could lead to unrest and division within the country. How this situation will be resolved remains to be seen, but it is clear that the Minister’s words have significantly impacted the people of Sri Lanka.
Even though the thirty years war is over
After thirty years of terrorism, the country was freed 14 years ago. However, the country has been going through economic decline, mainly due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. Recently, the Minister made a statement that may imply an invitation to join the most powerful country in the region.
However, it is essential to analyse whether this statement is a wise move or not. In doing so, one must consider the diplomatic relationship between India and Sri Lanka throughout history. This relationship has been marked by cooperation and tension, with India frequently intervening in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs. Therefore, any decision regarding aligning with India must be carefully evaluated, considering the country’s interests and long-term goals.
India casually ruling Sri Lanka
It is an openly discussed fact that India has a long-standing agenda of keeping Sri Lanka under its control. India’s pursuit of this goal has been consistently evident in its political and economic manoeuvres despite displaying a cordial and amicable attitude towards Sri Lanka. India has been trying to achieve its strategic interests in Sri Lanka for many years, becoming more visible over time through various means.
India’s attempts to exert its dominance over Sri Lanka have been seen through its involvement in the Sri Lankan civil war, where it supported the Tamil Tigers, a militant organisation. India has also tried to influence Sri Lanka’s internal affairs by providing aid, loans, and investments, all of which come with certain strings attached that favour India’s interests. This has created a complex and contentious relationship between the two countries, with India’s ambitions and Sri Lanka’s sovereignty often coming into conflict.
Sethu Samudram is not the only one
India had proposed the construction of a canal across the Palk Strait to Sri Lanka as part of the Sethu Samudram project. The proposed canal would have made it easier for ship traffic to pass through the strait and boost trade between India and Sri Lanka. However, the Sri Lankan government was not in favour of the proposal. They believed that it would lead to an economic collapse in Sri Lanka due to its impact on the fishing industry and the livelihoods of the local community.
The project was initially proposed in the 19th century, but in the 21st century, India revived the proposal. The project also faced opposition from various environmental groups and political parties in India. Despite several discussions between the two countries, the project has yet to be implemented.
The Sethu Samudram project is still debated and discussed between India and Sri Lanka. The project’s feasibility, economic impact and environmental concerns remain intensely scrutinised.
India had many plans
If the Setu Samudram project is implemented successfully, India will benefit significantly. To begin with, it would provide a much-needed sea route between India and Sri Lanka for shipping to the eastern part of India. Currently, ships have to take a longer and more expensive route around Sri Lanka, which is time-consuming and costly. Moreover, the Colombo port adds an additional burden on the shipping companies.
The Setu Samudram project aims to create a canal between India and Sri Lanka to facilitate shipping. However, this has been a challenging task due to the narrow sea and shallow waters between the two countries. As a result, it is imperative for India to obtain the consent of Sri Lanka to proceed with the project.
If the project becomes a reality, Chennai Port will become the most influential port in Asia, providing a significant boost to India’s trade and economy. Also, diverting all the ships arriving at Colombo port to Chennai would inevitably lead to a severe economic blow to Sri Lanka. This could cause a significant loss of value for Sri Lanka in the South Asian region, which could have long-term consequences for the country.
Overall, the Setu Samudram project has the potential to be a game-changer for India’s shipping industry and could have far-reaching effects on the economic and political landscape of the region.
India vs China
China’s ambitious plan to build its “New Silk Road” involves the creation of a sea route, which includes the Hambantota Port. This was a huge win for China, defeating India in this bid. However, even today, Sri Lanka has yet to fully capitalise on the potential of the Hambantota port due to the influence of India.
India is seen as trying to take control of the port and has been working to increase its power in the region. The Hambantota port is strategically located and has the potential to become a central hub for trade. Still, Sri Lanka’s inability to fully exploit its potential has been a missed opportunity for the country.
Is India angry with Sri Lanka?
The Sethu Samudram project was an ambitious plan by India to create a shipping canal linking Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar, reducing the distance and time required for shipping between India’s eastern and western coasts. However, when the project faced legal and environmental challenges, India began looking for alternative ways to achieve its objective.
One such alternative was to take over Kachchathivu Island in the narrow sea area between India and Sri Lanka. If India had succeeded in this endeavour, it would have gained control over the majority of the sea area, which would have allowed it to bypass Sri Lanka’s permission for the Sethu Samudram project.
However, India’s attempt to take over Kachchathivu Island failed, which was a relief for Sri Lanka. India’s ambitions were perceived as a threat to Sri Lanka’s unity, and this led to separatism and terrorism in the north of the country. India was accused of supporting Tamil separatists in Sri Lanka, and it is feared that India might use the situation to its advantage.
If the separatism had succeeded and Sri Lanka had been divided, India could have easily annexed the northern part of Sri Lanka within a day. This would have given India access to the Setu Samudram project, control of the sea traffic between the two countries, and influence over the Indian Ocean. However, Sri Lanka remained united, and India’s plan did not come to fruition.
Still, India against Sri Lanka
In India, this chain of actions continues. They try to do this sometimes as friends and sometimes as enemies. However, they are not ready to give up India’s dream of making the northern part of Sri Lanka or the whole of Sri Lanka a state of India.
The report also suggests a plan to connect India and Sri Lanka to make a land route. In this situation, India tries to integrate Sri Lanka into India. If India is physically connected with Sri Lanka in any way, then India knows very well what needs to be done in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, to become a state of India, does not need any other way. The northern part of Sri Lanka is full of Tamil people. The central province is home to many people of Indian origin. The Muslims living in Sri Lanka may wish to merge with India. Then, only the Sinhalese people who have lost their power will be left.
Sri Lanka is helpless in the face of economic collapse
The statement made by the Sports Minister of Sri Lanka has caused alarm among the people of Sri Lanka, given the following facts. It appears that the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna, a political party that has been historically anti-India, is shifting towards a more lenient policy towards India.
This change occurred following a visit to India by Anura Kumara Dissanayake. According to reports in the Sri Lankan media, the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna is showing less opposition to India’s Amul purchasing Sri Lanka’s Milko. It is unclear whether India will attempt to take advantage of Sri Lanka’s current economic difficulties to meet its own needs.
Despite this uncertainty, one thing is clear: India will continue to pursue power in the Indian Ocean. India views China’s growing influence in Sri Lanka as a direct threat and will not allow the situation to escalate. If necessary, India is prepared to intervene to protect its interests, as Sri Lanka is not as valuable to India as its security and existence.
Unfortunately, Sri Lanka finds itself in a difficult position in the Indian Ocean, with limited economic and political power. While the country is recognised as a sovereign nation by the United Nations, it cannot demand much due to its financial struggles. Sri Lanka has become a pawn in the political games of larger powers who are seeking to take advantage of its situation.
