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Don`t seek exclusive rights to Sri Lanka, India told
Thursday, 1 March 2012 - 11:43 PM SL Time
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India should not feel uncomfortable with Chinese presence in Sri Lanka as there is `plenty of room for both`, said a Sri Lankan MP and adviser to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He said India should not try to seek `exclusive rights to Sri Lanka`.
Rajiva Wijesinha, who was here Wednesday on his way to Nepal, said, `India should not feel uncomfortable` about China`s growing presence in Sri Lanka.
`We are good friends with both India and China,` Wijesinha told IANS in an interview.
`And there is plenty of room for both.`
Wijesinha, who studied at Oxford University and has worked as a professor, said Sri Lanka`s geographical position makes it attractive for both the countries, `but (seeking) exclusive rights to Sri Lanka is a waste of time`.
`Not at all, not at all,` said Wijesinha when asked whether India should begin to worry about the projects being undertaken by China in the island nation.
Citing the example of Hambantota port, he said: `We first offered its development to India. When it didn`t go ahead, it was given to China.`
The port is located in Hambantota, one of the lowest per capita income regions in Sri Lanka, and the port will be an important catalyst for major economic development. The total estimated construction cost of Phase 1 of the project is $361 million, out of which 85 percent has been funded by the Ex-Im Bank of China.
The professor said that now India is `moving quickly` and working at the Kankesanturai port in the north.
He gave the assurance that `India has nothing to worry about` regarding China and added: `China is not a Big Brother`.
Wijesinha, who is advisor to the president for reconciliation, would like India to help out in providing micro-credit to the ex-combatants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
In May 2009, Colombo militarily crushed the LTTE, the last stages of the war leaving thousands of combatants and civilians dead.
India outlawed the LTTE in 1992, a year after a Tiger suicide bomber assassinated former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
The bloody war in Sri Lanka, Wijesinha said, left 300,000 internally displaced people. `About 10,000 combatants surrendered while another 1,000 were later caught.`
`The idea is to provide micro-credit to the former combatants so that they can restart their lives through entrepreneurship,` he said.
`We will soon approach India so that a sum of 1,000 lakh Sri Lankan rupees ($820,000) can be distributed to at least 1,000 ex-combatants.`
Speaking animatedly on his favourite subject of education, he admitted that though his country has high literacy, `a lot still needs to be done`.
`We have to fast forward education,` said the professor who has published `Beyond the First Circle: Travels in the Second and Third Worlds`.
He stressed that India has `done a lot` to help reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
`India has not done a song and dance about it,` he said with a smile as he tried straightening his tousled hair.
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AnuD
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 1 Mar 2012 17:56:21 GMT Report for Abuse
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Don't seek exclusive rights to Sri Lanka,
Exactly.
In a political world, for a small country and considering the Sri Lanka's history and culture, it is very dangerous to align only with one country, particularly HINDIANS.
Edited By - AnuD - 1 Mar 2012 17:59:28 GMT |
Spetsnaz1
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1 Mar 2012 18:20:15 GMT Report for Abuse
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'We are good friends with both India and China,' Wijesinha told IANS in an interview.
Good answer.. we are better off having both on the side line and to use them when we want too.... but we got to be careful when dealing with Indians.... they are more like two headed snakes.....in the long run better if we can just keep a distance from the Indians... |
aruma
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 1 Mar 2012 18:26:36 GMT Report for Abuse
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Don't seek exclusive rights to Sri Lanka, India told
Neither India nor China is a true friend of Sri Lanka or any other country in the world!
These big countries come as 'friends to help smaller and developing countries' to help their own ambitions and economies!
They are real sharks.
We must be very vigilant when we accept 'unbelieveable' gifts : we must not let our children & grandchildren pay back our debts....... |
aruma
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1 Mar 2012 19:18:20 GMT Report for Abuse
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Exclusive rights to Sri Lanka, India told !!!!!
India has done a lot to Sri Lanka?
Good things or bad things?
My bloddy foot!
If India acted in time to eradicate and punish the brutal tiger terrorists Rajiv Gandhi may be still alive.
Tiger terrorism was armed, trained by RAW,
financed, supported and protected by India.
Remember air dropping of 'Parippu' by India to intimidate Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka would not have suffered by sacrificing so many innocent lives.
Millions of Dollars worth of property would not have been destroyed by the butchers.
Hatred between different races, cultures, religions would not have been so high like today.
China may not be a good friend of Sri Lanka, but India may be a worse one!!
Edited By - aruma - 1 Mar 2012 19:21:40 GMT |
AnuD
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1 Mar 2012 19:46:36 GMT Report for Abuse
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China may not be a good friend of Sri Lanka, but India may be a worse one!!
China is there only for business.
India will be worse. They want to suck everything out of the country. |
velu
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 1 Mar 2012 20:55:02 GMT Report for Abuse
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Velusumana (Aryan)
Exactly, just like us, our ancestors, our language and religion........ !!
Edited By - velu - 1 Mar 2012 20:57:12 GMT |
Elampimp
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1 Mar 2012 21:14:13 GMT Report for Abuse
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US holds back anti-
SL resolution in Geneva
March 1, 2012, 10:15 pm
By Shamindra Ferdinando in Geneva
The US yesterday held back a statement scheduled to be made on Sri Lanka.
Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Maria Otero was earlier scheduled to speak at 10. 30 a.m.
Geneva-based diplomatic sources expressed surprise at the eleventh hour cancellation of the US statement at the high level segment on the fourth day of the sessions, which would continue till March 23. A spokesman for the Government of Sri Lanka told The Island: 'In fact in the wake of UK demanding UN intervention in Sri Lanka, we expected the US to use a high level segment to pursue us on the human rights front. We are in the process of meeting member states of the UNHRC to defend our position and respond to whatever criticism and allegations directed at us.'
'We expect the US to respond to these allegations when Under Secretary Otero re-schedules her speech probably after Sri Lanka side event in Geneva,' he said.
The Sri Lanka s side event is scheduled to begin at 1.00 p.m local time. President Mahinda Rajapaksa s human rights envoy Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said that the government was ready to respond to those critical of the conduct of the military during the final phase of the offensive on the Vanni front.
The GoSL delegation said that the statements made by the Russian Federation and the South African government on the third day of the sessions couldn t have come at a better time. Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Gennady M. Gatilov and South African Deputy Minister for International Relations and Cooperation highlighted the partiality of those human rights champions, including international bodies.
Responding to a query, the Geneva-based SL mission said that the failure on the part of Western powers at least to mention gross allegations of human rights in several theatres of conflict since 9/11 had exposed their partiality.The mission emphasised that those accusing GoSL of human rights violations had conveniently forgotten the plethora of allegations against them. In fact both the UK and EU also failed to raise the accountability on the part of the LTTE and those who still stood for the group s eelam cause.
South Africa went to the extent of pointing out that some of those countries directing violence at their neighbours enjoyed the protection of Western powers.
The GOSL said that it really appreciated South Africa s position that it was the responsibility of the UNHRC to treat all violations alike.
While appreciating the LLRC recommendations, Botswana emphasised that all those responsible for human rights violations in any part of the world should be accountable.
Botswana Defence Minister said: 'I have no doubt in my mind that UNHRC will agree with me that impunity is unjustifiable. Therefore, it is within this realm that all those responsible....
Edited By - Elampimp - 1 Mar 2012 21:17:08 GMT |
AnuD
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1 Mar 2012 21:33:33 GMT Report for Abuse
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The US yesterday held back a statement scheduled to be made on Sri Lanka.
Because, Sri Lanka was prepared, Good for Sri Lanka.
How many 100s of millions of foreign exchange spent on this ?
What percentage of that is because of the govt's own faults and govt made it vulnerable ofr outside forces.
Edited By - AnuD - 1 Mar 2012 21:34:55 GMT |
Damed
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1 Mar 2012 21:37:49 GMT Report for Abuse
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Me Sinhala Apage Ratai !
Apa Ipaduna Marena Rati !
Apa Hada Panaganena Ratai !
Mululowa me Ratata Yatai !
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