Are they fools or knaves or both?
DR.Vickramabahu Karunaratne-2016-08-18
While the Joint Opposition (JO) is shouting in the streets and within Parliament that the government is selling the country to the Western imperialists, the government is reported to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China with the assurance to encourage Chinese investments and to implement key projects including the Colombo-Ratnapura Expressway.
What the JO leaders predicted was that Sri Lanka will be isolated from the East and lose friends in the East, in particular China.
Without Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka will be dragged behind the West, claimed the JO leaders. However, while Hela Urumaya leaders were hailing, the Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry had signed the agreement on behalf of the Sri Lankan Government with the Chinese Commerce Ministry signing on behalf of China. Among the proposed Chinese investments to be implemented on a priority basis are the Hambantota Integrated Development Project, the Hambantota Port Phase II, Hambantota Port Dockyard, the Mattala International Airport Integrated Project, Southern Railway Project from Beliatta to Hambantota, the International Technology Institute and the construction of a part of the Central Expressway. Several other projects such as Development of Hambantota and Moneragala will also be carried out on a priority basis under the MoU. Kandy North Water Project has also been outlined in the project. The two sides have agreed to promote and support financial institutions subject to the relevant conditions and existing law, to fund and facilitate the execution of these projects. The China-Lanka Joint Committee will be the implementation unit of this MoU.
Without Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka will be dragged behind the West, claimed the JO leaders. However, while Hela Urumaya leaders were hailing, the Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry had signed the agreement on behalf of the Sri Lankan Government with the Chinese Commerce Ministry signing on behalf of China. Among the proposed Chinese investments to be implemented on a priority basis are the Hambantota Integrated Development Project, the Hambantota Port Phase II, Hambantota Port Dockyard, the Mattala International Airport Integrated Project, Southern Railway Project from Beliatta to Hambantota, the International Technology Institute and the construction of a part of the Central Expressway. Several other projects such as Development of Hambantota and Moneragala will also be carried out on a priority basis under the MoU. Kandy North Water Project has also been outlined in the project. The two sides have agreed to promote and support financial institutions subject to the relevant conditions and existing law, to fund and facilitate the execution of these projects. The China-Lanka Joint Committee will be the implementation unit of this MoU.
JO leaders still claim the Human Rights agreements supported by the West will push us away from the East and create hostility with the East, mainly Asian countries. Prof. G.L. Peiris says, "During our time, we never agreed to these sorts of things. We stood for the intent and interests of the country, its armed forces. Don't forget the fact that all Asian countries, three-fourths of the African countries are included, the Arab world, Russia, China and all supported us. Even Japan, India and Australia were against foreign judges. But, all those countries were silenced by the fact that Sri Lanka cosponsored the resolution. All this happened by irresponsible, cavalier commitment without considering whether these are constitutionally possible or implementable." However, the Proposed Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with India, the pact, which would be an improvement over the existing Free Trade Agreement (FTA), may soon be a reality.
Funnily enough JO leaders have promoted the critics of ETCA. Indian leaders have answered such critics on 70th Independence Day. "It is up to Sri Lankans themselves to decide on the contours of any agreement that they sign with a foreign country." While opposing friendship with India JO leaders showed confidence in Western powers. "There was never a question of sanctions. Take for example the apparel sector. Some of the largest companies in the United States were sourcing products from Sri Lanka. American and British companies were accustomed to dealing with Sri Lankan companies which have fulfilled the highest standards in terms of quality, timely delivery and research for the future. Those companies are not going to detach and go elsewhere. It is not a question of philanthropy or morality. It is also self interests. These are long-standing relations. In our time, no word was spoken about sanctions. That is a bogey created by some people for their own ends." Are they fools or knaves or both?
