International - India & World   

India cannot dictate terms: Sri Lanka parties

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: The recent statement by National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan that Sri Lanka should look to India for its defence needs and not go to China and Pakistan has evoked sharp criticism from virtually all quarters in the island nation.

Two key parties in the ruling coalition, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), in their comments to the local media, have said India could not dictate terms to this country. SLFP Minister D.M. Jayaratne said, "India is our closest friend. It is essential for us to maintain that status. But when it comes to weapons we are compelled to transact with countries which actually fulfil our country's military requirement."

JHU leader Udaya Gammanpila said, "India should realise that Sri Lanka has the right to transact with any nation. However, if India comes up with a favourable deal, India will always be the first choice since it's our neighbour."

`Not handled prudently'

However the main opposition, United National Party (UNP) blamed the government for the current state of affairs and its "failure" to handle international politics prudently. Its MP Dayasiri Jayasekera said India must have been unhappy with the dealings the government made with other countries and the government should have been aware of it.

"Past leaders have handled this issue more prudently. The government is not in a position to identify its enemies and friends in the international arena. This issue is not like a dispute between brothers in a family."

R. Sampanthan, MP of the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance, said it was always wise to work closely with India. "Leaving aside weapons deals, having cordial relations with India will always help solve national issues."

In an editorial, `Oppressive generosity?', Daily Mirror said India always believed that Pakistan was filling a vacuum created by the distancing role it had adopted of late. India continued to be perturbed at possible Pakistan support to Muslim jihad groups in eastern Sri Lanka.

"Hence, the conflict in Sri Lanka was never the only concern for India in intervening. India always had a hidden agenda when it came to Sri Lanka. Of course, given the geography it becomes irrelevant if the agenda serves our concerns or not," the English newspaper said.

"Mr. Narayanan's words have again reiterated what was always the real agenda towards Sri Lanka. Having trained, provided logistical support and financed the LTTE in its own soil, India always preferred to take the back door to the conflict." The paper said India needed to stop playing bully once again and understand the crucial nature of assistance each country could provide to the other.

`Massive ego'

Another English daily, The Island, in its editorial, `Problems of being bully's buddy-II," said, "India always behaves like a sadist deriving, as she does, immense pleasure from the sufferings of her neighbours, like those cheap Indian soap opera characters who are full of hatred, envy, jealousy and hubris. She has a massive ego to nurse and this she does at the expense of others. She treats her neighbours as untouchables."

The concluding para read, "India is said to be Sri Lanka's friend. With such friends, Sri Lanka needs no enemies. `God save me from my friends', it is said. `I can protect myself from enemies!'"

K. Godage, former Foreign Service officer, in an open letter, "If not offensive weapons, then what Mr. Narayanan?," asked whether he wanted Colombo to ask New Delhi for catapults if India did not provide weapons with offensive capabilities.

"There was a time when Indian hegemonists sought to use the stupid mismanagement of our foreign relations (and relations particularly with India) to `Bhutanise' this country and transform us into a vassal state (read Prof. N.S. Krishnan on the subject). They almost succeeded through the letters that were exchanged between Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and President Jayewardene as a part of the Indo-Lanka Agreement."

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Fighting in Lebanon at a decisive stage
China, U.S. hotline likely
Large crowds greet Chaudhary convoy
60 die in Afghan boat accident
Chinese official dies
Consolidation of the India-Brazil strategic partnership
India, China say their rise shouldn't alarm world
Brazilian President's visit to `transform' relations with India
India cannot dictate terms: Sri Lanka parties
Coordinated patrolling under study: Antony
Body found

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu