India-Lanka land bridge: Danger to sovereignty and Independence of Sri Lanka

Cardinal: Bridge project poses danger to sovereignty and Independence of Sri Lanka

The Catholic Church has opposed the proposed India-Lanka land bridge connectivity project, warning that it will endanger Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and independence.Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, speaking to the media at Ruwanwella on Friday, said that if implemented, the project would make Sri Lanka part of Tamil Nadu.

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith

“Our history is full of instances where invaders came from South India from time to time to capture parts of this country to rule them. On each occasion, the Sinhala kings had to mobilise armies to get rid of them and liberate those areas. Now, the government in power is proposing to build a land bridge connecting Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. This certainly would end up with this country becoming a part of Tamil Nadu,” the Cardinal said.

The Cardinal’s criticism of the bridge project came days after President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s announcement that a pre-feasibility study for a land connection between Sri Lanka and India had been completed, and a full feasibility study would be conducted in the near future.  The President said so when he met Rev. Dr. Fidelis Lionel Emmanuel Fernando, the Bishop of Mannar, Diocese of Mannar, at the Mannar Bishops House on 16 June, according to a statement issued to the media by the President’s Media Division subsequent to the visit.

The Cardinal said: “Who needs this bridge? It is clear that the idea has been mooted following a request from foreigners not because of a request from the people here. This government is resolute in carrying out all directives coming from outside without thinking whether they are good or bad for us. We must be careful not to carry out what is not beneficial to us. Otherwise we will end up in a worse crisis than what we already have. We must not do anything that harms our sovereignty and independence.”

Meanwhile, the Indian media have reported that in July 2023, during a visit to India, Wickremesinghe discussed the development of a land bridge between the two countries in a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The proposal for land connectivity had come from Sri Lanka, New Delhi at that time.

Creating land connectivity across the Palk Strait, which is as narrow as 25km (15 miles) at certain points, would provide India access to ports like Trincomalee and Colombo. This initiative aims to fortify the millennia old relationship between the two neighbouring countries. The Palk Strait, a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, serves as a rich fishing ground for both countries. Incidents of fishermen from both nations being arrested for inadvertently trespassing into the waters are common.⍐

The Island: 2024/06/24

Adani's wind power project in Lanka hits rough weather

 

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Note: Continuation is not available.

Russia and North Korea: Signed a new “comprehensive strategic partnership”

 

Russia and North Korea sign partnership deal that includes mutual defense pact 

Dylan Butts-CNBC

Key Points

1. Russia and North Korea have signed a “comprehensive strategic partnership” agreement, which includes military and defense collaboration.
2. It comes as President Vladimir Putin received a warm welcome in Pyongyang during his first trip to North Korea in over 20 years.
3. Experts and officials warn that North Korea would likely try to gain support for its nuclear weapons program in return for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.

• Russia and North Korea on Wednesday (19-06-2024), signed a new “comprehensive strategic partnership” as Western officials grow increasingly concerned about the implications of President Vladimir Putin’s first state visit to the nuclear-armed country in 24 years. 

  Russian state media reported the inking of the partnership, which included a mutual defense pact, hours after Putin arrived in Pyongyang to receive a red carpet greeting from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and a welcome ceremony attended by thousands. 

  

  Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un pose for a photo during a signing ceremony following bilateral talks in Pyongyang, North Korea June 19, 2024. 

  Kristina Kormilitsyna | Via Reuters

  
  The Russian president’s lavish reception included praise from Kim, who expressed full support and solidarity with Moscow, including for its “special military operation” in Ukraine, according to the state-owned news agency Tass.

  In reciprocation, Putin reportedly gifted Kim another new Aurus (a Russian-built limousine), an admiral’s dagger and a tea set, in a move symbolic of the two country’s growing ties. 

• Russian officials had signaled plans for the strategic partnership ahead of Putin’s two-day trip. The new document replaces previous treaties and reportedly covers cooperation across politics, economics, culture, humanities and security.

• “The comprehensive partnership agreement signed today provides, among other things, for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties to this agreement,” Tass quoted Putin as saying.

• “The Russian Federation does not rule out military-technical cooperation with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in accordance with the document,” Putin added.

• It comes after the official newspaper of North Korea’s ruling party reported on Tuesday that Putin had promised to help develop trade with the country and help to strengthen security across Eurasia. The article added that he supports the DPRK’s opposition to its “dangerous and aggressive” enemies.

• The White House has warned that any Russian aid to North Korea’s weapon programs could have repercussions for South Korea. 

• Potential ramifications

• Western countries — which heavily sanction both Russia and North Korea — have been closely monitoring developments of the visit and the potential ramifications for Russia’s war in Ukraine and tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

• NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a joint press briefing on Tuesday that Putin’s trip “confirms the very close alignment between Russia and authoritarian states like North Korea,” as well as China and Iran. Stoltenberg delivered the comments alongside U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

  U.S. officials have asserted that Pyongyang supplied Russia with dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of munitions for its war in Ukraine and that Putin could use his trip to lobby for more weaponry.

  “We are, of course, also concerned about the potential support that Russia provides to North Korea when it comes to supporting their missile and nuclear programs,” said Stoltenberg. 

• Speaking to CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” on Wednesday, Victor Cha, senior vice president of Asia and Korea chair for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, agreed that North Korean weapon supplies to Russia could be reciprocated through Kremlin support for its nuclear program.

  “The question is how badly Putin feels he needs the ammunition from North Korea to survive and to win the war,” said Cha. “That may lower the bar for what he’s willing to give to North Korea, particularly if Kim drives a hard deal.”

  Early last year, Kim ordered the “exponential” expansion of his country’s nuclear arsenal and the development of more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles, state media reported. 

  “The number one vendor for that [expansion] will most likely be Russia,” said Cha. “For the United States, this is a real problem ... The Ukraine war is about the best thing that could have happened for Kim Jong Un.”

• The White House has warned that any Russian aid to North Korea’s weapon programs could have repercussions for South Korea. 

  On Tuesday, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told a news briefing that growing Russia-North Korea ties “should be of great concern to anyone interested in maintaining peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula.”

  Cha said, however, the United States may be limited in its ability to slow the flow of weapons between Russia and North Korea, without the risk of direct war.

  ″[The Biden administration] is giving it more public attention, but on the policy side, I don’t really see any signs of what they’re trying to do with regard to this,” he said.⍐

• Source: CNBC WED, JUN 19 2024

அபிவிருத்தியும் அரசியல் தீர்வும்: அப்பட்டமான அடிமைத்தனம்!

 

கொழும்பில் மக்கள் போராட்ட முன்னணி உதயம்.

Video

Galle Face activists form ‘Jana Aragalaya Sandhanaya’ for political reform in SL

A new political movement, the ‘Jana Aragalaya Sandhanaya,’ was established yesterday by activists from the 2022 Aragalaya (People’s Struggle) movement.

The movement formed according to the group in preparation for the next Parliamentary elections. It consists of student activists, civil activists, journalists and various political groups. 

In a release, the movement said the formation of this party marks a significant step in the pursuit of political power to fulfil the aspirations of the 2022 People’s Struggle, a topic widely discussed among the public and within the political community.

“In line with this objective, a Left political alliance has emerged, advocating for progressive political power, and opposing the alignment with the IMF program, which is not a solution to Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. This Left political alliance is presenting the people with a valuable historic election manifesto, as an alternative to the false belief that the only solution for Sri Lanka’s social, political, and economic crisis is through an election. It offers a political program with short-term and long-term plans which include creating an economic system that is fair for everyone,” it said. 

Former Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) Convenor Wasantha Mudalige addressed the media during the event, expressing disappointment over the lack of systemic change anticipated by the 2022 protesters. Mudalige criticised President Ranil Wickremesinghe, alleging that his policies have only exacerbated the existing crisis.

According to Mudalige, the current Government has failed to ensure stability which has led to the people facing numerous challenges in their lives. He said therefore the ‘Jana Aragala Sandhanaya’ will seek to establish a new political culture in Sri Lanka to ensure a better future for the country⍐. 

Daily FT Thursday, 20 June 2024

Indian FM Jaishankar in Sri Lanka

 Indian FM Jaishankar in Sri Lanka to discuss partnerships amid project delays, ahead of polls

ECONOMYNEXT – India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will pay a one-day official visit to Colombo on Thursday (20) and meet Sri Lankan leaders to discuss “wide-ranging issues of the partnership”, India said, amid delays of some key Indian projects ahead of a presidential poll in Sri Lanka.

Though Sri Lankan government has claimed that Jaishankar’s visit was a precursor to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who formed the new government last week, the External Affairs Ministry of India did not mention anything on Modi’s visit.

The visit will be Jaishankar’s first bilateral visit after the formation under the new government.

“Reaffirming India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, the visit underlines India’s continued commitment to Sri Lanka as its closest maritime neighbour and time tested friend,” the Indian External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

“The visit will add momentum to connectivity projects and other mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors.”

The visit comes amid delays in key Indian projects including land, oil and gas pipe, and grid connectivity deals, Adani’s wind power plant deals which is facing a legal battle, and port and investment zone projects in the Eastern port district of Trincomalee.

Adani wind power project in the Northern district of Mannar has seen some public protest over environmental concerns after some experts said the project has failed to do a proper Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The critics against project also protest against its lack of transparency.

Jaishankar visit also comes as Sri Lanka is expected to go for presidential poll within next four months. 

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, and Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka are expected to contest in the election to chose the island nation’s 8^th leader.

Sri Lankan leaders have been under pressure from India in the past two decades amid increasing Chinese influence in the island nation as the move is seen as a security threat to India, analysts say.

Docking of a Chinese nuclear submarine in 2014 with the New Delhi government’s approval led to dramatic government change in 2015 presidential poll with ousting of former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa. 

Rajapaksa later accused India for his defeat.

Rajapaksa’s brother Gotabaya in 2021 unilaterally cancelled a key port terminal project given to India unilaterally after promising Jaishankar to sign the deal. 

Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced to flee the country in 2022 after mass protests due to his wrong economic policies.  

(Colombo/June 20/2024)⍐