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Protests in Sri Lanka against Sethu

V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO: Protesters in the Sri Lankan capital on Tuesday extended their "solidarity" and "support" to counterparts in India who were opposed to the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project (SSCP) and demanded its withdrawal.

A small group of protesters representing the `People's Movement Against Sedu Samudram Project' demonstrated outside the Indian High Commission this afternoon. In a memorandum addressed to the High Commissioner, Nirupama Rao, they urged the Indian Government "to stop" the project which they said was "disastrous for the environment, bio-environment and has very serious socio-political and military effects on Sri Lanka."

"We are aware that the Indian ruling class which is exercising hegemony over Sri Lankan sovereignty politically, economically, socially and militarily will do its utmost to implement" the project, the memorandum signed by the Movement's co-ordinator, E. Thambiah, said.

"The Sri Lankan Government, without the least environmental concern, would meanwhile concentrate on obtaining whatever possible economic and military aid from India," the memorandum said.

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