Lanka walking tightrope between India and China
By Our Political Editor
= India's high commissioner emphasises protest over sale of
land to Chinese aircraft company Malwatte
Mahanayake gives stinging message to Govt. - Sangha, Veda, Guru, Govi, Kamkaru on the streets
Ebullient and charming Ashok Kantha, India’s High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, the accomplished diplomat that he is, found it difficult to hide his feelings.
That he chose to say it at a formal official ceremony that marked the 65th anniversary of India’s independence was all the more important. The Indian community – diplomats and their families, Indian security forces personnel assigned to their diplomatic mission, their citizens in Sri Lanka and their own media representatives – were there to hear the nuanced message. It came after Kantha read out the Indian President’s message as well as his own to mark the formal event. He said there were issues with the government of Sri Lanka. They were trying to resolve them since both were friendly neighbours.
Some previous envoys too have delivered messages, some outrageously strong and others forcefully eloquent. However, the fact that Kantha chose his country’s Independence Day ceremonies at India House to engage in subtle diplomacy was unprecedented and significant. This is notwithstanding efforts by Indian media representatives to ignore the issue. The High Commission’s official spokesperson, Birendar Singh Yadav, kept stonewalling efforts by the Sunday Times to obtain an official text of the speech. Unlike most of his friendly, media savvy and co-operative predecessors, Yadav said on four different occasions that “I will send it” but, the speech with either what Kantha said or not, never arrived. He may have been under orders. Yet, the message delivered by Kantha was received loud and clear by the UPFA government leaders. It sent ripples at the highest levels and prompted a serious and analytical discussion.
Behind the veneer of all the good things said, Indo-Sri Lanka relations have hit a new low. Like the proverbial last straw that broke the camel’s back, the cause for the latest episode was revealed exclusively in last week’s front-page lead story of the Sunday Times. It said that India had lodged a strong protest with Sri Lanka over the allocation of a prime Colombo property to a Chinese company though it was earmarked for India. The report said: “The protests were delivered both in New Delhi and Colombo, an External Affairs Ministry source said yesterday. He was speaking on grounds of anonymity since EAM officials are not allowed to talk to the media.”
Through an inadvertent error, the report in our print edition said that the 287 perch property belonged to Whittal Boustead and Company. It is in fact, the property of Shaw Wallace and Hedges Limited, one of the oldest firms in Sri Lanka. Now Shaw Wallace & Hedges PLC, an investment holding company, engages in the property development activities. It develops, manages, and maintains condominiums, commercial buildings, hotels, entertainment complexes, and recreational facilities. The company was founded in 1852. based in Colombo is therefore 162 years old. Shaw Wallace & Hedges PLC is a subsidiary of Lee Hedges and Company Ltd.
