By Gagani Weerakoon and Skandha Gunasekara-November 15, 2014
TNA Leader R. Sampanthan questioned as to why the government was aligning itself so heavily on the side of China when the island had a foreign policy history of non-alignment.
MP Sampanthan said that since the government had changed to the Rajapaksa regime, Chinese influence on Sri Lanka had grown exponentially.
"Sri Lanka has followed a foreign policy of non-alignment for decades. However, the Rajapaksa Government has changed all that and has sought tremendous support and financial assistance from China"
He questioned as to why China was given prominence over India with regards to financial assistance adding that during the period 1971 to 2012 a total of USD 5,056 billion was extended as financial assistance to the island from China, of which USD 4,761, roughly 94%, was extended between 2005 and 2012, during the term of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
"The funding promised by China in the period 2012 to 2014 is said to be around US Dollars 2.18 billion, the majority as a loan; of the total funding in the period 2005 to 2013, only 2% is grant while 98% is loan.
In contrast, I would like to look at Indian assistance to Sri Lanka, it is approximately US Dollars 1.3 billion, 1/3rd of that amount is by way of grant."
Sampanthan observed that as a result of Sri Lanka's growing ties with China, relations between the islands closes neighbour India have been strained in recent times.
"Is this a clear indication of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's insensitivity to the concerns of neighbouring India, recognized as the regional power in South Asia, or is it the pursuit of a deliberate, pre-determined programme to undermine Indian interests and thereby isolate India so as to free itself from obligations and commitments made to India not only in the interests of reconciliation, peace and harmony within Sri Lanka but also in the region? No country has greater links with Sri Lanka politically, economically, socially and culturally than India. Are these actions intended to undermine all these linkages which have their roots in both geography and history?" Sampanthan queried.
Thereafter MP Sampanthan stressed on the possibility that the very large loans given by China to the country would be turned into equity, adding that it was a grave concern for many Lankans who worried about its impact on the islands independence and sovereignty.
"Sri Lanka claims that it will have operational control over many projects executed by China. To what extent this will be possible is questionable. The extent of indebtedness of Sri Lanka to China would result in Sri Lanka being denied the opportunity to exercise any such operational control" the MP remarked.
With regard to geopolitical security, Sampanthan noted that Sri Lanka's increasing defence ties with China is perceived by India as a possible threat which would leave the island estranged from its oldest and closest ally.
"A Chinese submarine along with a Chinese warship docked in the Colombo Port in September 2014. It docked again in the Colombo Port on its return. Though various assurances are given by Sri Lanka - when things that did not happen earlier happen now, they cause concern and raise the question of whether there is new thinking, whether it is sought to undermine and marginalize India by Chinese dominance - the million-dollar question being with what consequences eventually, both for India and Sri Lanka" Sampanthan said.
MP Sampanthan asserted that defence co-operations between Sri Lanka and China has received prominence recent times and that the reports mid this year of the establishment of a Maintenance Facility in Trincomalee by China, which had gained Cabinet approval, would have been in contravention of the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement.
