Electing MS By Popular Will Is The Greatest Foreign Policy Coup
By Sanka Chandima Abayawardena –June 7, 2016
Sanka Chandima Abayawarden
The country seemed to be enthusiastic over the reception that PresidentSirisena received in Japan as media reports started to emerge. There is nothing more exciting for an International Relations person like myself than seeing Sri Lanka gain positive global spotlight. However, given the kind of strategic interests of different powers at play over Sri Lanka, it is important to provide a comprehensive yet easy to understand explanation to the public. Public situational awareness and judgment is an essential element in developing civic participation in our foreign policy exercise. My intention is to provide the public with a simplified understanding away from technical and key words.
There is no doubt that the reception that President Sirisena received in Japan is significant. It shows how much the Western powers (G8 minus Russia) value Sri Lanka in their camp. Sri Lanka as the doorway to any government with ambitions to dominate the Indian Ocean is a very attractive grapefruit. No matter who is in power in Sri Lanka (from Chandrika, Ranil, Mahinda to Sirisena), foreign governments that have strategic interests in maritime trade and naval affairs always had their say over our standing in the global structure. The public is well aware of the international power games played during the conflict with the Tamil Tigers. It is the responsibility of the government to use our geostrategic standing in a way that ensures our sovereignty through prosperity.
Therefore it is important to understand what kind of opportunities and risks come with the spotlight that we are getting since January 2015. Sri Lanka is among a group of countries that make up the essential elements of China’s Maritime Silk Road (the single most important initiative in recent history that can shift the balance of power in favour of the Global South). This is the best shot we have to become what we were some centuries ago – the trade and knowledge hub of the Indian Ocean.
