Sri Lanka may become a party to the Indian Ocean power struggle due to the security agreements signed with India, which may pave the way for future conflict situations, said United Republic Front Leader Patali Champika Ranawaka while addressing the media in Naula, Matale today (06).
Question: How do you see this change in the attitude of this government, including the acceptance of Narendra Modi in the past?
Answer: On the one hand, I am happy. On the other hand, I am sad. I am happy that in this world, especially India, which is not only our neighbor but also our relative, a big economy in the world today, I am happy that we are thinking realistically about it. I am also sad that they launched an anti-Indian rebellion in this country. With the conditions that had arisen at that time. In that rebellion, 6,600 people were killed by the JVP in a very unjust manner. 66,000 people died in suppressing that rebellion. The armed action they took was in response to that act. There is no problem in opposing the Indo-Lanka Accord. We also opposed it. We are still opposed today. But we are very sad that the leader of the JVP, Anura Dissanayake, has not yet apologized to the nation for the disaster that befell those who died in that armed process.
Speaking further, Mr. Ranawaka also expressed his opposition to the agreements that the current government is to sign with India. He alleged that the leaders of the current government, including Mr. Anura Dissanayake, had previously strongly criticized these agreements and that their policies had changed in the face of power.
“These six agreements signed with India, these should have been signed with the agreement of all those people, as a country. Mr. Anura Dissanayake should have signed these agreements. Instead, this has been done by abusing the presidency based on personal will and personal interest. A party that has been very vocal about abusing the presidency in such matters has now abused the power of the presidency. Just as J.R. Jayewardene did, Mr. Anura Dissanayake has also done this in this regard. Also, according to Article 157 of our Constitution, for this to be a legal document, it must be passed by two-thirds of Parliament.”
Commenting on the security agreements, Mr. Ranawaka said that due to such agreements, Sri Lanka could become a party to the power struggle in the Indian Ocean, which could pave the way for future conflict situations. He recalled that the country faced a long-term war due to the wrong foreign policy followed since 1977.
“Especially under this security agreement, if Sri Lanka immediately takes sides in this Indian Ocean, we could face a conflict situation with the other parties. That is what happened to President Jayewardene. Since 1977, he sided with the United States of America and was retaliated against by India. As a result, the country was trapped in a thirty-year long war. A huge number of people died. The country’s economy suffered immense damage. A huge number of people had to flee the country. There is no point in talking about that pain, the conflict that arose in that foreign policy. Especially the issue raised with Mrs. Indira Gandhi. So it turned into a big conflict and in the end the presidents of both sides were assassinated. Rajiv Gandhi, who was aspiring to be the Prime Minister of India, was assassinated. Mr. Ranasinghe Premadasa was assassinated. We were heading for a big war because of that process in India. Because of that wrong foreign policy. Also, we need to remember that today there is a big struggle going on in this region between the United States of America, China and India in this high seas. Let them fight that high seas struggle and Sri Lanka will remain independent. Now if the United States is asked to sign an agreement, or if President Trump says that we are leaving the International Monetary Fund, what will Anura Dissanayake do? If China says, immediately pay our debts. Why can Mr. Anura Dissanayake say that we have restructured our debts without paying the debt installments? Therefore, we should not take sides in this power politics. We need to remember that.”
Mr. Ranawaka also expressed his concerns regarding the exchange of digital data, saying that it could be detrimental to the sovereignty of the country and the rights of the people. He also emphasized that further action would be taken after the government makes a formal statement on these agreements.
“The matter regarding digital data should be revealed. Because the data of the people of the country is the wealth of the world today. The fact that that data belongs to another country or another company is a betrayal of the sovereignty, the rights of the people, the sovereignty of the people by the Sri Lankan government. So we do not know about these agreements. But we do not know because we have not done it. After learning about these agreements, we will present a formal statement on this principle. What we have done is wrong.”
Mr. Ranawaka also pointed out that the trade policies of the new President of the United States of America could have a severe impact on the Sri Lankan garment sector and urgent steps should be taken for that. He also warned that there is a risk of losing GSP Plus concessions next year. “This will definitely affect the garment sector in Sri Lanka. Because President Trump imposed a ten percent tax on everyone in general. It is reported that an additional tax of 44% has been imposed as an exception. Similarly, taxes have been imposed on other things such as vehicles, aluminum, iron, etc. So three billion of our exports go to America. Garments go. Rubber goes. Our coconut shell charcoal goes. Coconut shell charcoal is very special to us. In the United States of America. I have seen that water is purified. Our charcoal is used. So we have to face a big problem with these issues. Because we are in a situation where even the dollar is valuable.
Not only that, we are also going to lose the GSP Plus concession from the European Union in 2027. Europe is introducing a new system. Similarly, after Europe intervenes in this trade war, demand in Europe may decrease. President Trump said last November that he would do this. He has known the country since the day he came to power on the fourth. So the President came on September 21. If he had foresight, he should have taken steps like Vietnam, India and China to prepare for this. Now, after this economic bomb exploded, what are they looking for? This is a characteristic of this government. However, the country is suffering from it. Three hundred and sixty-two thousand of our poor children who are employed in our garment and apparel industries. If we lose that amount in free trade zones, we can face big problems.”
Mr. Ranawaka further stated that he has no confidence in the economic management of the current government and that assistance from foreign experts should be sought in this regard. He also emphasized that an appropriate delegation should be sent to the country immediately to discuss the existing trade issues with the United States of America.
“Today the BBC reported. Because the Land Rover Jaguar company stopped the vehicles going to America. Tens of thousands have lost their jobs in England so far. People have taken to the streets. So that is why this disaster will happen in Sri Lanka too. We don’t have it. At least face this issue like Vietnam, China and India did. I don’t think the Minister of Industry of this government has any knowledge on this issue. The government should bring in experts like the one who worked with the International Monetary Fund. Foreign experts should be brought in on this issue like the IMF’s Lazard. Because the government’s ministers in charge of economy, the President, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Industry have shown that they have no knowledge on this issue. Therefore, at least on behalf of the people of this country, I request the President to select a group of foreign experts, call for tenders and send them to the United States for these discussions. Because President Trump will definitely work to discuss these.”
