Rajapaksa lauds India's development work in North Lanka
Press Trust of India / Kuala Lumpur Mar 18, 2010, 14:06 IST
Keen to forge all-weather ties with India, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has lauded the developmental work undertaken by the country in the war-ravaged northern region and vowed not to allow his nation's soil to be used against it.
"India is our neighbour. We must have good relations whether in war or in peace," Rajapaksa said in an interview to Singapore's New Straits Times. Referring to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India, he said the businessmen should decide on it and also find out how it would benefit them.
"If you try to introduce it the way that people mind it... (that would be counter-productive). We can't enforce it by force. Let the businessmen decide and when they realise that this will benefit them, then automatically they will push for it. I think that urge is taking shape now," Rajapaksa said adding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh understands this too.
Noting that India is engaged in development of the whole of the North, he said "a lot of railway line restoration there is done by the Indians." However, he argued that it "doesn't mean Sri Lanka has been captured by India."
"Now take Hambantota port. It was offered to India first. I was desperate for development work. But ultimately the Chinese agreed to build it. Take Treasury bonds. Who controls it? The bulk is invested by Americans. Now take sovereign bonds. Who controls it? The British."
But, he said China is only doing development work and" we have to pay back their loans." Asked whether a Chinese naval base would be allowed to set up in Habantota one day, Rajapaksa said Beijing was not interested in having such a base there.
"I will not allow this country (Sri Lanka) to be used against any other country. Whether it is China, India, Pakistan... We are a non-aligned country," he said. Asked if Sri Lanka would start buying arms from India, Rajapaksa said his country did not need weapons from outside now.
"When a shipload of arms arrived from China after the war -- this was ordered by our friend (ex-army chief Sarath) Fonseka -- I had to turn it back. We don't need that much of arms and ammunition anymore."
What President Rajapakse said indirectly is; so-called aspiration of most Sri Lankan Tamils is Eelam. Needless to say recent history says it all. For one, D.B.S. Jayaraj says; cry for a separate Tamil state was first proposed by a little known man called Visvalingam in 1918. And he says; C. Sundaralingam articulated a clear-cut political demand for Eelam, which he spelled out as ?Eylom. What mattered to us is; our President seemed to accept that however much devolution we offer to Tamils they will not be satisfied. President is very clear about our future: More power to provinces means more segregation and division. Tough luck for you 13A supporters, federalists, separatists and Eelamists.
srilanka must go with singapore is much better country compare with other three countries. india not a democratic country from their behaver in srilanka is enough is enough, india pushed the srilanka in trouble with UN commission. no one knows wheather same like underhand work is going on.recent vist of indian foreign secretary told northeast is well improved you destroyed but many thousands and thousands civilians killed.tamils future generation will be adnormal children the cause war crime.the present old generation days are numbered.the big headack for human rights and UN and USA
Posted by: len
March 21 , 2010, 09:42 IST
Yea wright Singapore got the purest democracy in the planet.
Re Rajapaksa lauds India's development work in North Lanka
Rajapakse's tactics to woo Indians, said that "when a shipload of arms arrived from China after the war -- this was ordered by our friend (ex-army chief Sarath) Fonseka -- I had to turn it back. We don't need that much of arms and ammunition anymore" and this could backfire.
It is clear the Rajapakse is trying to ride on two boats with one leg on each.Very little he knows that he is going to fall flat and get drowned. What will happen if China takes this seriously and starts helping the Tamils. China will benefit because they can infilterate into Tamil Nadu and destabilize India.
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