Sri Lanka: India’s latest security nightmare

[amarnath]

India has herself to blame. The hegamony and interferance in the south asia has made India the most hated country in the sub continent. Partisan approach to the problems of Sri Lanka has made 75% of the Sri Lankan people very suspicious of India. Hence the genuine affection to China. I tell the indians change your foreign policy from hegamony to friendship then you will not have problems.

comeon If You are Thinking Srilanka Hates India becoz India was behind LTTE , Iam sorry, You cannot be a sri lankan, If you are from Sri Lanka You should also Know the Indian armys role in Helping the sri lankan Army, MARCOS Invaded the LTTE territory And We Supplied the Weapons to end This Sri lankan trouble for Ever...

If sri lanka hates India why would it buy weapons from India and Send its troops to train Jungle warfare here in India?

 

[samv]

Sri Lanka shining now

Not war-torn anymore, prospects are bright for rapid economic growth in the island nation

By Ajit Ranade

Posted On Saturday, January 02, 2010 at 02:00:51 AM

The Sensex is a big brand, which celebrates is 25th birthday today. It is an index, calculated as an average of 30 prices of stocks listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. These are 30 largest companies, and the average price is taken by adjusting for their respective weights.
The 30 companies used in the Sensex today is different from the 30 companies few years ago, because the league of the top 30 keeps changing. Indeed, only 11 of the original 30 from 1986 remain in the Sensex today.

For Indian investors, Sri Lanka may well live up to its name of being the emerald isle, with its all-share index rising by 125 per cent in 2009

You can choose to invest in any of those individual companies (the so-called ‘large cap stocks’) or you can invest in the Sensex directly. If you had invested Rs 100 in Sensex one year ago, it would have become Rs 180 today. If instead, you had invested in gold, then your investment would have risen only by 25 per cent. The Sensex has soared by 80 percent, it's highest single year rise since 1991, and among the biggest gainer in stock markets all over the world. India beat China in this race during 2009.

However, the stock market, which beat everybody, was from neighbouring Sri Lanka, whose all-share index (not just 30 stocks) rose by 125 per cent. Colombo’s performance was the world’s best, thanks to foreign inflows, declining inflation, lower interest rates and outlook for stability. Sri Lanka is expected to reap a peace dividend after the defeat of LTTE, and the end of a virtual civil war for the past 25 years.

The country will elect a new President on January 26, and then vote for a new Parliament in April. The Sri Lankan system of government is a mixture of presidential (American) and parliamentary system (Indian), with the president being answerable to an elected Parliament. However, the former can dissolve the latter! There are 22 candidates in the fray, with two leading contenders being incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Army chief General Sarath Fonseca, who was instrumental in the victory over LTTE. Former world

cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga is supporting Fonseca, though the promise of peace dividend might favour the incumbent President. If the incumbent government led by Rajapaksa comes back to power, it will be a repeat of the UPA victory in India’s parliamentary elections in May 2009.

Sri Lanka’s elections are as colourful as India’s, so expect much cacophony and noisy campaigning. Whatever the outcome, the outlook for the economy is bright. The north-eastern Tamil-dominated area will need massive reconstruction and investments. Unfortunately, wars lead to destruction, and then to economic revival. Elsewhere too in the economy, tourism, fisheries, agriculture and services are expected to grow twice as fast this year. The Lankan currency is also strengthening, and remittances are growing too. If you invested in Lankan government bonds last year, you would have made a safe return of at least 20 percent. Of course, the risky Colombo stock market would have given you 125 percent.

Lanka has very high literacy and relatively better health care. Its population is only two per cent of India, while the economy is four per cent. Were it not for the terrible two-decade long civil war, it could have been a tourism haven like Bangkok or Hawaii, and a logistics hub in South Asia rivalling Singapore.

As it makes its slow climb, its prospects are bright in the coming years. It enjoys a free trade pact with both India and Pakistan, so that goods and investments can flow freely in both directions. The Chinese are keen to get a foothold in the island nation, and it behooves us not to let go of our geopolitical and cultural advantage. At Kotla we had a fiasco, whereas in Colombo the pitch is just right.

Sri Lanka shining now, Columnists - Ajit Ranade - Mumbai Mirror,Mumbai Mirror

 

[samv]

comeon If You are Thinking Srilanka Hates India becoz India was behind LTTE , Iam sorry, You cannot be a sri lankan, If you are from Sri Lanka You should also Know the Indian armys role in Helping the sri lankan Army, MARCOS Invaded the LTTE territory And We Supplied the Weapons to end This Sri lankan trouble for Ever...

If sri lanka hates India why would it buy weapons from India and Send its troops to train Jungle warfare here in India?[/url]

Sri Lanka doesn't hate India. The relationship is set to grow further.

 

[amarnath]

Sri Lanka doesn't hate India. The relationship is set to grow further.

absolutely

 

[vandemataram]

another internet warrior.

I don't have to 'show' the Pakistanis anything, India will not allow them to have meaningful relations in South Asia anyway. Facts will remain facts, Sri lanka and India are friends, I hope I don't have to spell it out for you or anyone else on the forum.

As I said earlier, there will always be some degree of mutual suspicion, this is typical of big power - small power relations, Indians like you need to understand this simple fact, it makes no sense to respond in kind as it is counter productive and only furthers mutual distrust.

Things are murkier than meets the eye, Spitfighter...

First things first, I am not a Tamil nor am I a Prabhakaran (RIP) sympathiser.

Ethnic Tamils have long inhabited the "Emerald Island" and the association goes back to at least 1 millenia. Thus you must appreciate the fact that the entire Tamil population, its culture and habits are deeply entrenched within Sri Lanka, which cannot be altered by any external country/forces/threats.

Nobody talks of maintaining unhealthy relationships with the immediate neighbors and that actually is counter productive in certain cases (Rajiv Gandhi). But one should not have even an iota of doubt that "All is well" with the ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka. The movement of the Tamil Ealam has been long and winding with no respite, even during the days of the Raj and so just within 60 years' of Indian/Sri Lankan (Lesser than that) independence cannot just wash away the

Legitimate requirements of the ethnic Tamilians in Sri Lanka. As a Sinhalese might argue that Sri Lanka is for the Sinhalese race and even if we have a large number of ethnic Tamilians, it does not mean that they should have a larger/appropriate say in the affairs of a country like Sri Lanka.

You must remember this, that India is a peace loving country and tries to maintain utmost good relationship with the neighboring countries (save a few); but make no mistake India is not bound by anything that forces her to compromise on anything.

I ask the Indian Government and followers/voters like you one question.

Does India have the balls to catch the GOSL by the scruff of the neck and ask her about the sufferings of Tamils in the two decade long conflict? International Organisations have taken cognizance of this fact and the truth shall come out sooner than later.

GOSL must ensure fair treatment of its Tamil minority (the largest minority) in equal terms with their Sinhala counterparts.

Do you have any answers for the mass movements that are going on in countries ranging from the Fiji Islands to Canada regarding the Tamil Ealam? Millions of dollars are donated by the Tamilians (they could be Indians/Canadians or American).

The GOSL has been able to wipe off the top brass of the LTTE (I do not support it as it was violent and used violence as their means to the end). But so is GOSL.

The LTTE is wiped out but not the global urge of Tamilians (ANY country they might belong to/any citizenship status/and generation) to carve out their Ealam.

Until that happens things arent well at all.

And regarding SL newfound bonhomie with Pakistan and the Chinese are widely read, discussed and anticipated. No one stops India to replicate the same things in Sri Lanka as the others are doing. Of course India has great relationship with the Sri Lankans and even if the Government does not have that the people of Sri Lanka will prove that they are nt ever far from the Indians.

 

[TheBraveHeart]

You make some good points here. Did the Sri Lankan military commit atrocities during the last 30 years or so of war? Yes, I have no doubt about it. But so did the IPKF during its sojourn in Sri Lanka. And so has the Indian military in Kashmir, and in its latest move against the Maoists. The point is, war is a horrible thing, and bad things happen. This is not something unique to the Sri Lankan situation, but common to many if not all wars. Has the Sri Lankan state made bad policy decisions? Oh yes, definitely!

The only reason I mentioned the atrocities of Srilanka govt/army was to name all major players in the LTTE War mess so that each of the guilty party is made responsible including Indian govt. at that time but not restricted only to India.....
Nor did I say Indian govt./army haven't committed any atrocities at all...so u bringing in the Indian problems is a bit off topic...
But I do agree that once a war starts, hell is bound to happen,whatever amount of efforts u put in doing otherwise...

You seem to be claiming that India was justified in arming, training and funding the LTTE at one time because of the 'plight' of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. Well, in that case you must then accept that neighbouring countries have the right to arm, train and fund insurgent groups in India, if, for example, they feel that the Muslim community or the Dalit community, or the Christians in India are being oppressed.

Guess u shud read my statement again!! Did I even a write a single word about the above mentioned points?? Please don't indulge in twisting my views/points.....Does the below in any way mean what u mentioned??

although its true LTTE was funded and trained by Indian govt. initially, it didn't do so after IPKF forces got involved.

I have simply accepted a fact and expected u to concur that the arming didn't last once IPKF entered Sri-lanka which was way back in 1987!!
Also, no need to bring Indian problems on this thread, there are many, already on the same topics.

You say that India "tried to keep away from the war as much as it can by not being partial to any of the sides for political reasons at home." I agree that India has domestic compulsions. But do you see how this may appear on the other side of the Palk Strait? India was willing to give - free of charge - offensive arms and training to a terrorist group, but was not happy to sell weapons to a democratically elected government which with it had good relations and which was fighting a group that was banned India.

To put it in simple perspective, I will say, when two houses are burning simultaneously, one which belongs to me and the other of my neighbor, there are pretty high chances that I douse mine first and then help my neighbor...so in a way it may look selfish but when ur in a spot of bother u will do the same....India applied this principle and since then had been covertly trying to help Sri-lanka(u don't realize what India risked?? had any of the political parties made an big issue of it, Tamilnadu would have been burning today.....)

As I have mentioned before, end of the LTTE has made Sri Lanka especially, and South Asia in general a more stable place. As far as Sri Lanka is concerned, I think that this has actually made the island less of a "battleground for intelligence agencies."

You point to Pakistan and China, but historically it is India's RAW that has caused most damage to the island.

You are either not getting my point/view or are oblivious of the facts/history.......I mentioned a couple of countries and add to that Myanmmar & Maldieves, aren't they war free?? Then why are they called playgrounds for South-asian intelligence agencies.....??
Well I will put it this way, consider a parent has a child who enjoys his dad's company very much......but after a few years, his dad tells him that he has two step brothers/sisters.......naturally the three will be annoyed realizing that the love and affection would get divided amongst the three...... the two new children being siblings would join hands to keep the first child out, who then realizes that he needs to fight for his rights...so the war begins...since dad can't be partisan to any of his children can't mediate while the children shall fight endlessly till either of them lose ...In the meanwhile everyone has lost their innocence.....Since the battling turf was dad, he loses the most....

You mention a "naval base" but please don't forget it was India itself that did not want to develop Hambantota. It was India that missed the bus here and Sri Lanka should not be responsible for bad Indian policy decisions. Once again, from Sri Lanka's perspective, China's investment in the port is a boon to the country.

The problem isn't development of a port but that of creation of a Base where Chinese subs can station/refuel etc.....Since India has been the sole country governing the IOR region apart from US(which India opposes) for years, another power trying to spoil/derail the party will surely be considered a threat.....
U can compare it with LTTE(if functional) being helped by India and allowed to create a base on an Indian port, in today's time ...
Also u had spoken about sovereignty, isn't that in doubt when u have foreign military personnel on ur land 24*7, 365days?? Is Afghanistan sovereign for u??

I agree with your last paragraph. I look forward to an increasing relationship between Sri Lanka and India. I have no doubt that all ready good relationship between the two countries is going to be taken to a higher level. Being sensitive to others' concerns is something all South Asian countries can be cognisant of. But as long as Tamil Nadu and anti-Sri Lankan elements in India's intelligence community have a say on India's Sri Lanka Policy, I think Sri Lanka ought to build its political, economic and military links with all the countries it can.

Guess u shud understand that some feelings are difficult to die down...in 1950's there were still many nazi supporters, today there are a mere handful...same case here, it will take at least a couple of decades more for complete peace.....
All said that doesn't mean that Tamilnadu should not have a say in Indian decision making coz India being a democratic country it has to work according to certain guidelines/principles/constitution....where everyone has a right to speak...

U have ur rights to develop relationships with whomsoever u want.......but the day those relationships harm India's security, it holds the right to defend itself with counter measures....

Depending only on India would be a mistake for Sri Lanka; a policy blunder. For example, if Sri Lanka had depended only on India during the last decade, the LTTE would still be alive and well.

May be that is how Sri-lankans look at it.......since I have very little idea about the precise details of war, I would rather not comment....

Sri Lanka has no benefit from antagonising any of its neighbours. I think Sri Lanka's policy makers are aware of that. While India may have reason to be suspicions of Pakistan, Bangladesh and China, Sri Lanka does not. Whilst India's relationship with Pakistan and China may be frosty, Sri Lanka's relationship with those two countries is warm and friendly. As I mentioned earlier, it will be a test of Sri Lanka's skill how she will manage all these relationships without jeopardising one or the other.

That is something only u guys have to workout carefully...So no comments from my side!!