Sri Lanka's new president to visit India, steers away from China

[third eye]

Sri Lanka's new president to visit India, steers away from China| Reuters

(Reuters) - Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena will visit India on Feb. 16, his first state visit abroad, a government official said on Wednesday, part of efforts to repair relations with New Delhi which soured under the previous government.

Sirisena earlier pledged to pursue a more global foreign policy in a break with his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa's pursuit of close ties with China, a key supporter of Sri Lanka's economy since its 26-year civil war ended in 2009.

"In considering the past, we make a clear commitment towards following a foreign policy of the middle path, in friendship with all nations," Sirisena said during a speech marking Independence Day.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted he was looking forward "to welcoming President Sirisena later this month." Modi is scheduled to make a reciprocal trip in the second week of March, according to Sri Lankan government officials.

Sirisena's trip will last two days, the official told Reuters, declining to be identified.

Sri Lanka's January 8 elections unexpectedly ousted Rajapaksa and brought Sirisena, a former Rajapaksa ally, to power on a platform of rooting out corruption and bringing constitutional reforms to weaken the presidency.

Sirisena's administration has ordered a review of all Chinese infrastructure projects awarded under Rajapaksa, a move expected to sit well with India and Western nations concerned about Beijing's growing influence and military presence in the region.

Rajapaksa's decision to allow two Chinese submarines to dock in Sri Lanka last year angered India, as the move breached an existing agreement between the two countries.

In the run-up to the January vote, Sri Lanka expelled India's spy chief for helping to unite a fractious opposition to defeat Rajapaksa, according to diplomatic and political sources, although India denied any expulsion. [ID:nL4N0UX07Y]

Sirisena's visit to India will mark the changing attitudes of both nations, said P. Sahadevan, a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.

"Earlier, though it was not displayed openly, there was quite a bit of antipathy from India toward the Rajapaksa regime," Sahadevan said. "That's gone."

Sirisena has also pledged to grant autonomy to the island's former northern war zone where members of the country's ethnic Tamil minority predominantly live, part of an agreement with India that the Rajapaksa government failed to fulfill.

 

[trident2010]

Good for both the countries !!

 

[Ryuzaki]

aa gaya line pe

 

[Mughal-Prince]

Sirisena has also pledged to grant autonomy to the island's former northern war zone where members of the country's ethnic Tamil minority predominantly live, part of an agreement with India that the Rajapaksa government failed to fulfill.

Let's see how Siri Lankans react with this imposed govt decisions reaction.
I am seeing Sirisena exit soon one way or another.

 

[Gibbs]

Misleading headline.. Where the f2ck does it mention the govt is steering away from China ? Western media getting orgasms as usual, Even for a minute change perceived as anti China.. Just shows how threatened they are by it's growing global influence

In considering the past, we make a clear commitment towards following a foreign policy of the middle path, in friendship with all nations," Sirisena said during a speech marking Independence Day.

Previous govt's foreign policy was obviously skewed.. Totally alienated some of the biggest export markets and trade partners along with countries like Japan that were steadfast allies..This on seeks a more balanced approach.. SL is a small island nation.. Strategic but not big enough to play global power politics.. It needs a non aligned policy.. Hence the move towards that

Even Rajapaksa always visited India first, Given it's proximity and influence in the neighborhood.. It's the natural thing to do.. India and Sri Lanka are not attritional neighbors.. So it's a normal thing to do.. Plus the Modi govt invited him first.. You cant make state visits without invitations..I dont see the reason for the huge fuss some media is making out of this

Let's see how Siri Lankans react with this imposed govt decisions reaction.
I am seeing Sirisena exit soon one way or another.

Mate the 13th amendment that this article vaguely refers to as "Autonomy" is already the law in SL.. It was just not implemented for obvious reasons in the North for all these years.. But is in practice in the rest of the islands provinces.. Yes it was basically showed down the throat so to speak by the then Govt of India to gain influence through thier proxy terrorist LTTE to destabilize the country

But unfortunately it's already the law of the country.. So it's a simple case of implementation of what is essentially the law

 

[third eye]

Mate the 13th amendment that this article vaguely refers to as "Autonomy" is already the law in SL.. It was just not implemented for obvious reasons in the North for all these years.. But is in practice in the rest of the islands provinces.. Yes it was basically showed down the throat so to speak by the then Govt of India to gain influence through thier proxy terrorist LTTE to destabilize the country

But it's already the law of the country.. So it's a simple case of implementation of what is essentially the law

You disappoint some posters here with this reply

 

[Judge]

Hope to see Indian and Sri Lankan relations grow more and more.

 

[Gibbs]

You disappoint some posters here with this reply

But thats the truth.. The problem that small nations like Sri Lanka have as oppose to large countries like India, China and Pakistan is often the ground reality rarely comes out to outsiders who are fed mainly by obvious vague one tracked reporting by Western and Indian media.. Who tend to be more condescending than actually being unbiased

Case in point how this article refers to it as mere autonomy.. Giving it a twist without any details

 

[samv]

Mate the 13th amendment that this article vaguely refers to as "Autonomy" is already the law in SL.. It was just not implemented for obvious reasons in the North for all these years.. But is in practice in the rest of the islands provinces.. Yes it was basically showed down the throat so to speak by the then Govt of India to gain influence through thier proxy terrorist LTTE to destabilize the country

Funny. The current Sri Lankan government is an Indian proxy.

 

[Guynextdoor2]

Misleading headline.. Where the f2ck does it mention the govt is steering away from China ? Western media getting orgasms as usual, Even for a minute change perceived as anti China.. Just shows how threatened they are by it's growing global influence



Previous govt's foreign policy was obviously skewed.. Totally alienated some of the biggest export markets and trade partners along with countries like Japan that were steadfast allies..This on seeks a more balanced approach.. SL is a small island nation.. Strategic but not big enough to play global power politics.. It needs a non aligned policy.. Hence the move towards that

Even Rajapaksa always visited India first, Given it's proximity and influence in the neighborhood.. It's the natural thing to do.. India and Sri Lanka are not attritional neighbors.. So it's a normal thing to do.. Plus the Modi govt invited him first.. You cant make state visits without invitations..I dont see the reason for the huge fuss some media is making out of this



Mate the 13th amendment that this article vaguely refers to as "Autonomy" is already the law in SL.. It was just not implemented for obvious reasons in the North for all these years.. But is in practice in the rest of the islands provinces.. Yes it was basically showed down the throat so to speak by the then Govt of India to gain influence through thier proxy terrorist LTTE to destabilize the country

But unfortunately it's already the law of the country.. So it's a simple case of implementation of what is essentially the law

Staying away from India is stupid, economics will India will always be more efficient than with CHina. For trade the distance between the two countries is just a few hours rather than several weeks by sea with CHina. Plus, places like Bentota can become some serious rivals for places like Goa, that's a huge tourism boost for you. I don't think SL will become a large Industrial power, better to depend upon areas like tourism.

 

[samv]

Staying away from India is stupid, economics will India will always be more efficient than with CHina. For trade the distance between the two countries is just a few hours rather than several weeks by sea with CHina. Plus, places like Bentota can become some serious rivals for places like Goa, that's a huge tourism boost for you. I don't think SL will become a large Industrial power, better to depend upon areas like tourism.

Sri Lanka will stagnate under the current government.

They already delieved a pathetic budget with subsidies galore merely to gain votes. Jayalalitha would be proud.

Investors will be running away.

Plucking tea leaves and picking coconuts is Sri Lanka's future.

As well as shining India's boots.

 

[Gibbs]

Funny. The current Sri Lankan government is an Indian proxy.

Ok mr. "RAW"..

Have you two met each other ? Perfect match..

 

[samv]

Ok mr. "RAW"..

Have you two met each other ? Perfect match..

Why are you posting photos of your dad here?

 

[Guynextdoor2]

Sri Lanka will stagnate under the current government.

They already delieved a pathetic budget with subsidies galore merely to gain votes. Jayalalitha would be proud.

Investors will be running away.

Plucking tea leaves and picking coconuts is Sri Lanka's future.

As well as shining India's boots.

There is nothing wrong with Plucking Tea Leaves. I've tarvelled widely across your country. Instead of stupidly chasing polluting industries for shitty ego, become a tousit hub like Thailand or Indonesia. Don't screw up your country.

 

[samv]

There is nothing wrong with Plucking Tea Leaves. I've tarvelled widely across your country. Instead of stupidly chasing polluting industries for shitty ego, become a tousit hub like Thailand or Indonesia. Don't screw up your country.

Yes. Plucking tea leaves and coconuts is what Sri Lankans can aspire to now.

Jai Hind.