Do Not Touch: Nuclear, Chemical And Biological
By Dayan Jayatilleka -July 15, 2013
Dr Dayan Jayatilleka
Does anyone know who made the decision to dabble with nuclear power sources and if that weren’t enough, attempt a tie up with a chemical and biological research institute? To put it more plainly, who even introduced the words nuclear, chemical and biological into the Sri Lankan policy agenda? Why, at a moment when we are under the scrutiny of the USA, would we even use the terms nuclear, chemical and biological, which are terms that trigger extreme apprehension in the world order and especially among those who dominate it? When we – or some of us – are sure that the West is out to get us, why would we provide the best of all possible sticks for them to beat us with?
The lead story of The Island reads as follows:
“Even as India is awaiting Sri Lanka’s response to its offer of a comprehensive nuclear pact, the dispensation in Colombo is reportedly moving in the direction of such a pact with Pakistan, seen globally as a country “with dubious non-proliferation records.” The Hindustan Times claimed in a report today that, “in an apparent tit for tat,” Sri Lanka is moving in the direction of a nuclear pact with Pakistan after India voted against it at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva early this year. At the same time, Colombo is dragging its feet on a similar pact with India by not scheduling talks despite New Delhi’s keenness to conclude the agreement soon, the daily claimed. India had offered Sri Lanka a comprehensive nuclear pact that will deal with all aspects of civil nuclear cooperation, including safety and training of professionals…Official sources here said: “We are yet to hear from them”. Meanwhile, sources said foreign secretary-level talks between Sri Lanka and Pakistan have identified civil nuclear technology as a major area of cooperation. Statements made by Lankan authorities show their intent to negotiate nuclear deals with both India and Pakistan, sources said. Sri Lanka’s overtures to Pakistan are of concern to India…It also has issues with Colombo overlooking its intention to give it the best possible deal….” (‘Sri Lanka Ignores Indian Nuclear Pact, Looks to Pakistan’ S Venkat Narayan, The Island, July 15, 2013) Read More
