Change of guard witness a new bonhomie in Indo-Sri Lankan relations

The stunning victory of Maitripala Sirisena as the Sixth President of the Island nation ended a decade long regime of President Mahinda Rajapaksa marred by nepotism and corruption. By 2014, Sri Lanka’s economic growth rate was remarkable 7.5% and with total annihilation of LTTE, era of peace and prosperity commenced. Rajapaksa who was confident of consolidating his third term owing to buoyant economic growth called for snap polls two years ahead of schedule. The results which were unthinkable stunned even Rajapaksa’s astrologer who prevailed on him to conduct polls on January 8^th.

The ascendency of President Sirisena, a low profile, non-English speaking and son of World War II veteran, hailing from rice growing hinterland was unpredictable till few weeks back. Sirisena, a former ally who served as health minister in Rajapaksa’s cabinet defected in November and entered the fray with the support of opposition party for the Presidential elections. Change of guard in Sri Lanka barged in at a time when Indo- Sri Lankan relations are going through a phase of massive turbulence owing to Colombo’s deep embracement with China. India’s discomfiture increased and New Delhi was intensely dismayed when last year Sri Lanka provided berthing facilities twice to a Chinese Submarine at its Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT).  Chinese presence at a sniffing distance from Indian coasts in the Indian Ocean Region clearly rattled Indian government. Besides, Sri Lanka has silently let off Pakistani Consular General hitching a plan to strike the US Embassy in Chennai.

Mounted by the growing pressures of the West over the human rights violations and consequent downsizing of development aids to Sri Lanka by Canada, President Rajapaksa moulded into Chinese ambit for economic and military support. Indian government too under intense pressure and compulsion of coalition parties sided with the international community. Due to strained Indo-Sri Lankan relations Sri Lanka sought Beijing’s recourse and thereafter Rajapaksa brazenly and assiduously taunted India. During President’s Xi Jinping’s visit to Sri Lanka he unabashedly endorsed China’s Maritime Silk Route initiative.

Amidst these overtures, the newly elected President Sirisena in his election manifesto questioned the heightened Chinese presence in the island. With Chinese investments exceeding $8 billion in the island, he disapproved foreign presence and lamented that it might soon turn Sri Lanka into a colony. Growing Chinese presence worried the islanders who feared losing sovereignty. This has eventually accounted for the defeat of Rajapaksa. Even Tamils felt marginalised as Rajapaksa defected on promise of bringing them back into national stream line. He overtly supported the Buddhist oppression of Muslims even. Embroiled minorities who constituted 30% of the 24 million population paved for the defeat of the authoritarian Rajapaksa. Sirisena’s sensational victory is a strategic setback for Beijing which has been blatantly enticing South East Asian nations with economic bounties. Prime Minister Modi cognizant of spectacular rise of Sirisena sent out a warm congratulatory note and personal invitation to visit India to him even before results were officially announced.

Further, the visit of new foreign minister of Sri Lanka two days back, his first port of call marks the return of bonhomie. The free and frank talk of the diplomat is in sharp contrast to the cold response of Rajapaksa’s rule particularly in the last two years. Though India has delivered its promise of rebuilding houses for the displaced Tamils in Lanka Rajapaksa neither evinced interest nor even acknowledged India’s commitments.

 Meanwhile, Sirisena expressed his keen interest to restore historical, cultural and ethnic ties between India and implied to possibly reduce burgeoning influence of China. Probably, India will be first destination of Sirisena’s foreign visit. Indian government must respond positively to foster long term relationship with the island. Instead of buckling under domestic pressure, India must extend full support to the new government without interfering in its domestic issues and by express abiding concern for the well being of Sri Lankans. India should pro-actively take up the issue of regional cooperation with countries like Maldives and Sri Lanka to subvert the China’s strategic containment of India. China has already encircled India across its land borders by “Silk Road Economic Belt” and accelerated its maritime encirclement through “21^st Century Maritime Silk Road”. China’s diplomacy of cornering India received a shot in arm when Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal appeared to be supportive of its admission into SAARC as a full member.

Modi through his Act East Policy has reiterated India’s desire of renewing ties with its East Asian neighbours. India needs to be pragmatic and should realise that China with its deep pockets has been wooing the South East Asian Nations to invoke faith in its leadership. If India has to take advantage of the new leadership of Sri Lanka at the helm of affairs, it must be sensitive to its concerns and supportive of its issues to win back the hearts of the islanders.

 

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