Ceylon Today Editorial

Sri Lanka is at a critical stage

28 April 2017

No, not the kind which all the Joint Opposition lackey's concoct conspiracy theories to scare the mass populace with, but a rather practical and important stage which resembles a cross roads. One would lead to us becoming a failed State due to poor governing, while the other would lead to us being finally developed and a successful State.

With the growing foreign influence, both economic and political of nature, in Sri Lanka in the form of China and India, we have come to this cross road, which depending on what path we take, would determine the consequences we have to face and the eventual future of our country. The biggest Super Powers of the world have become our greatest beneficiaries in economic development now. With the Southern part of the country being leased to Beijing in order to pay off our crippling debt to the Eastern Empire, and the Northern part of the country about to be given away to our ever present Big Brother India, things are looking pretty crucial to any observer.

Of course, this would lead to more conspiracy theories – we will be colonized and invaded by the Chinese, while the Northern part of the country will be taken over by the Indians. This would remain where they are, as useless and irrational delusions of tinfoil cap wearing politicians trying to win back what they lost. They would win something if their cards are played properly, and the government decides to muck up this brilliant opportunity we have at our hand, to finally see some work done in the country.

There are obvious benefits from shaking hands with India and China when concerned with our own economy. As planned, if the Colombo Port City, now dubbed as the Colombo International Financial City and the matters with regard to the Hambantota Magampura Harbour is handed over to Beijing, it will resolve a considerable percentage of debt Sri Lanka owes to China. Similarly, if the Trincomalee port and the British built oil storage tanks are leased to the IOC in a joint venture between India and Sri Lanka, it would also be a boom to our economy, eventually attracting investments into the area, which will spread to most parts of the North and the East. This would also see to an increase in job opportunities for the local population as well as an influx of foreign cash income to the country.

But this would also lead to heighten China and India having the opportunity to influence the country's politics to a greater length.

Accordingly, we would come under a diplomatic invasion – not a military one – similar to many cases from around the world. This, if it ever comes to pass, will not be anything new.

Furthermore, giving control of two pinnacle and crucial points of the country to two Super Powers, who are indirectly competing against each other can lead to major setbacks to us. For instance, giving India the control of Trincomalee will result in us, supporting the growth of India's naval strength. Being a peninsula country and with a considerably strong naval force, India, once in charge of Trincomalee will prove to be an unstoppable force. This will only be an eventuality if the Chinese controlled Hambantota moves to accommodate Chinese submarines and other naval vessels in the southern seas – India will see itself being forced to show their naval dominance in the Indian Ocean.

Ultimately, the Indo-China [diplomatic/economic] occupation of Sri Lanka will also lead to threatening our own national identity.

This is what the lackeys of the Joint Opposition pine for. Selling the idea of a threatened national identity, and a sovereignty going extinct, can lead to the mobilization of the masses on a massive scale. When hay is thrown to the raging fire it can only worsen matters.

President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe have their hands full at the moment. With one party's ideological perspective driving the country towards more liberal free trade and better prospects, we see another movement – one that wants to preserve the national sovereignty of our own – without any interference from aliens.

This is the cross roads Sri Lanka is facing. The decisions made by our leaders in the next few days will determine the course we will take in the future.