India to build sea bridge, tunnel to connect Sri Lanka at a cost of Rs 24,000 crore: Nitin Gadkari

[raktaka]

The loan wasn't offered, the ADB only said they were willing to give a loan if the project goes ahead.
A bridge built on loans will not counter Chinese investments like the Port City

US doesn't need India here. Ties with SL are growing fast
US Wants to Make Lanka an Economic and Security Hub -The New Indian Express
South and Central Asia: Remarks at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies - EIN News
Sri Lanka : US Under Secretary calls on Sri Lanka\'s PM

The first US, Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue will be held in 2016 which will discuss Governance, Development Cooperation and People-to-People ties; Economic Cooperation; Security Cooperation; and International and Regional Affairs
US, Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue to meet Feb 2016 in Washington | Lanka Business Online

Sri Lanka is currently studiying the Cons and Pros of the Trans Pacific Partnership and have already expressed interest in joining the second rounds of talks on joining TPP to John Kerry

That is what an offer a loan looks like.

The very fact that the loan was offered and here is an american trying to explain to India why we should take that loan tells a different story.

US is building an asian alliance against china so US will engage with SL to and India has encouraged it to dilute chinese influence. I don't see the problem as long as SL do not sign up for NATO

 

[Godman]

US is building an asian alliance against china so US will engage with SL to and India has encouraged it to dilute chinese influence. I don't see the problem as long as SL do not sign up for NATO

US isn't here to dilute Chinese influence. Their interests are very different from what Indians think. US has no problems with Chinese investments worldwide.

 

[raktaka]

US isn't here to dilute Chinese influence. Their interests are very different from what Indians think. US has no problems with Chinese investments worldwide.

LOL.... sure. Whatever floats you boat

 

[Gibbs]

So finally there is a reaction from Sri Lanka to this hoop la made by the Indian transport Minister.. And like i correctly mentioned @Sliver no sane govt will agree to something against the support from vast majority of it's citizens.. Likewise there is a good reason to my know how of the ground situation in Sri Lanka rather than you to only assumptions

This is from a senior cabinet minister and the leader of the House in parliament, So we can safely assume it's the position of the GOSL

Govt. opposes Indian bridge, tunnel link to Sri Lanka

The Island

Leader of the House University Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella told media yesterday that Sri Lankan government was against India’s plans to build a bridge between Rameshwaram of Southern India and Thalaimannar.


Commenting on Indian Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari’s Wednesday statement to the Lok Sabha that India was set to build a sea bridge and tunnel connecting Sri Lanka, the Minister said that Sri Lanka would not agree with the proposed project.


"We are against it because people of Sri Lanka are opposed to it. We cannot let India build a sea bridge connecting Rameswaram with Thalaimannar," the Minister told a group of journalists yesterday.


Indian Minister Gadkari on Wednesday in a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha has said: "The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to fully finance a bridge-building project connecting Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka. The project was also discussed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his counterpart during the latter’s recent visit."


The India-Sri Lanka connectivity project cost is pegged at about 24,000 crore of Indian rupees.

@Godman @Shotgunner51 @Nilgiri

 

[Godman]

So finally there is a reaction from Sri Lanka to this hoop la made by the Indian transport Minister.. And like i correctly mentioned @Sliver no sane govt will agree to something against the support from vast majority of it's citizens.. Likewise there is a good reason to my know how of the ground situation in Sri Lanka and you to only assumptions

This is from a senior cabinet minister and the leader of the House in parliament, So we can safely assume it's the position of the GOSL

Govt. opposes Indian bridge, tunnel link to Sri Lanka

The Island

Leader of the House University Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella told media yesterday that Sri Lankan government was against India’s plans to build a bridge between Rameshwaram of Southern India and Thalaimannar.


Commenting on Indian Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari’s Wednesday statement to the Lok Sabha that India was set to build a sea bridge and tunnel connecting Sri Lanka, the Minister said that Sri Lanka would not agree with the proposed project.


"We are against it because people of Sri Lanka are opposed to it. We cannot let India build a sea bridge connecting Rameswaram with Thalaimannar," the Minister told a group of journalists yesterday.


Indian Minister Gadkari on Wednesday in a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha has said: "The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to fully finance a bridge-building project connecting Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka. The project was also discussed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his counterpart during the latter’s recent visit."


The India-Sri Lanka connectivity project cost is pegged at about 24,000 crore of Indian rupees.

@Godman @Shotgunner51 @Nilgiri

Its just a proposal, not only its an unpopular idea but not that practical as well. Sri Lanka has yet to develop infrastructure that can handle this. Thalaimannar is situated in Mannar Island which is connected to mainland Sri Lanka by this bridge which is not large enough if a large amount of traffic comes from India

And I don't think they will expand or build new bridges as the Mannar district population (Including the Mainland part which has most of the population) is very small at 99,051

 

[Nilgiri]

Its just a proposal, not only its an unpopular idea but not that practical as well. Sri Lanka has yet to develop infrastructure that can handle this. Thalaimannar is situated in Mannar Island which is connected to mainland Sri Lanka by this bridge which is not large enough if a large amount of traffic comes from India

And I don't think they will expand or build new bridges as the Mannar district(Including the Mainland part which conatins most of the population) is very small at 99,051

Yes this will have to wait, both countries have much more important prudent things to focus money and resources on for now.

When they are much richer and there is a large demand for transport between the two countries, this can be looked into.

Sri Lanka for one will need at least 10 years of reconciliation, peace and growth after that brutal civil war....and India I think needs to get to 5 trillion USD GDP status at least.

Civil projects especially cannot be white elephants for long periods of time. At least with mechanical, aerospace, hitech etc, a short term over capacity can give you certain technological dividends so you are not caught unprepared when you do need it later on. But a bridge is just doing stuff we know how to do on a large scale...its better done when we actually need it.

 

[HeinzG]

Yes this will have to wait, both countries have much more important prudent things to focus money and resources on for now.

When they are much richer and there is a large demand for transport between the two countries, this can be looked into.

Sri Lanka for one will need at least 10 years of reconciliation, peace and growth after that brutal civil war....and India I think needs to get to 5 trillion USD GDP status at least.

Civil projects especially cannot be white elephants for long periods of time. At least with mechanical, aerospace, hitech etc, a short term over capacity can give you certain technological dividends so you are not caught unprepared when you do need it later on. But a bridge is just doing stuff we know how to do on a large scale...its better done when we actually need it.

Sri Lanka has nothing to do with India and Sri Lanka needs no land link with India. As the history suggest Sri Lanka has maintained it's independence because it didn't have any land link with Indian mainland. If this bridge is built Sri Lanka will become part of India with in no time.

 

[$@rJen]

"We are against it because people of Sri Lanka are opposed to it. We cannot let India build a sea bridge connecting Rameswaram with Thalaimannar," the Minister told a group of journalists yesterday.

What's the reason the People of Lanka are against it??

 

[HeinzG]

Indian Military power w.r.t to Sri Lanka IS Overwhelming.

If India decides, it can over run Sri Lanka in one day and there is NOTHING China or anyone in the world can do anything about it.

Just because India does not exercise its military power does not mean it doesn't exist.

The last time India acted against its Neighbours was to create Bangladesh and that took us 13 days, that while fighting at two fronts i.e. pakistan and Bangladesh and with the world including the US AGAINST us.

You are mistaken to think Indian Military strength is not Overwhelming. There are only a few nations in the world that can withstand an military onslaught by India.

In our neighbourhood its only China who can. Pakistan can due to the Nukes china gave it. Without nukes even pakistan will not last a week or two.

I say this only to correct your perception, realistically India is the last nation on earth to attack ANYONE. It would need extreme provocation to turn India hostile.

If India invades Sri Lanka; It will give green light for Pakistan and China to invade Kashmir and other contested areas with ease. Indian invasion of Sri Lanka will become the ultimate doom of the Indian federation.

India is not a super power nor it will ever become. India political situation is not capable of creating a strong leadership and government to take serious decisions.

What's the reason the People of Lanka are against it??

Because it will create a influx of Indians to Sri Lanka which in turn change the demography of Sri Lanka. We will become another Fiji in no time.

 

[Nilgiri]

Sri Lanka has nothing to do with India and Sri Lanka needs no land link with India. As the history suggest Sri Lanka has maintained it's independence because it didn't have any land link with Indian mainland. If this bridge is built Sri Lanka will become part of India with in no time.

You are just one voice. The people will decide when the time comes.

Because it will create a influx of Indians to Sri Lanka which in turn change the demography of Sri Lanka. We will become another Fiji in no time.

Like Fiji has a land link with India?

 

[$@rJen]

Because it will create a influx of Indians to Sri Lanka which in turn change the demography of Sri Lanka. We will become another Fiji in no time.

What the hell!! they're not going to stay there forever, mostly tourism, Personally i'd love to drive to Sri Lanka, are you aware these influx is going to boost your economy. trade could be increased !!!!

B/t this project is not necessary as of now because trade b/t India and Lanka is not that big. let it increase, after 2 or 3 decades it should be implemented

 

[HeinzG]

You are just one voice. The people will decide when the time comes.

Yeah let's see who likes this stupid idea.

Like Fiji has a land link with India?

Fiji doesn't have any land link but they has considerable number of Indians in Fiji who have considerable political say.

What the hell!! they're not going to stay there forever, mostly tourism, Personally i'd love to drive to Sri Lanka, are you aware these influx is going to boost your economy. trade could be increased !!!!

B/t this project is not necessary as of now because trade b/t India and Lanka is not that big. let it increase, after 2 or 3 decades it should be implemented

Oh really? India has more unemployed people than the entire Sri Lannkan population. Imagine when they come to Sri Lanka looking for jobs. I don't think many of them go back. They will stay in Sri Lanka and might marry Sri Lankans or import their wives from India. Then after some times Sri Lanka would've to accept them as Sri Lankas just like the plantation Tamils. After another few years there maybe many Indians and Tamils outweighing the Sinhalese. If that happens u can kiss Sri Lankan Independence good buy.

 

[sharma1111]

There is no need to waste money on such costly projects. Its better for India, if we spend the money on railway,road connectivity in north east.

 

[tested]

Tons of trolling in what could have been an informative thread.

 

[$@rJen]

Oh really? India has more unemployed people than the entire Sri Lannkan population. Imagine when they come to Sri Lanka looking for jobs. I don't think many of them go back. They will stay in Sri Lanka and might marry Sri Lankans or import their wives from India. Then after some times Sri Lanka would've to accept them as Sri Lankas just like the plantation Tamils. After another few years there maybe many Indians and Tamils outweighing the Sinhalese. If that happens u can kiss Sri Lankan Independence good buy.

Wow... Claps for you... alots of them... because ya India is the one who is going to issue work Visa for them

Sri lanka decides whether or to give employment to Indians. what do you mean many of them won't go back???? they're entering in Sri lanka legally, its easy to spot them and send them back. Stop being a Racist first. There are lacs of Sri Lanka Students in India looking for jobs after finishing their studies. Sri lanka is not Dubai to look for a job and stay there forever. your currency's value is less than half of India's (ex. 100 INR is 46+ Lankan Rupees) Seriously very few would look for a job there. and its easily can be countered by Lankan Authorities