Indian Colonialism in Sri Lanka-by Dr. Asoka Bandarage Following independence from Britain, both India and Sri Lanka emerged as leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement, which sought to advance developing nations’ interests during the Cold War. Indeed, the term “non-alignment” was itself coined by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during his 1954 speech in Colombo. The five principles of the Non-Aligned Movement are: “mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty; mutual non-aggression; mutual non-interference in domestic affairs; equality and mutual benefit; and peaceful co-existence.” Later, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi played a key role in supporting Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s 1971 proposal to declare the Indian Ocean a Zone of Peace at the United Nations. Such progressive ideals are in stark contrast to the current neocolonial negotiations between the two countries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s forthcoming visit to Sri Lanka on April 4, 2025, is presented ...
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Sri Lanka: A geopolitical magnet in the Indian Ocean Region-by Vladimir Terekhov Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Source:Dailynews Located 50 kilometres from Hindustan or the Republic of India, the island country of Sri Lanka has never suffered from a lack of attention from the world’s leading players. This is due to the island’s critical strategic position in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Such a position always and for all such countries contains both positive and also potentially dangerous aspects. It all depends on the state of affairs in the system of relations between the main players at a given moment in history. If the said players are not too suspicious of each other, quite a lot of benefits can be derived from the interest of each in influencing countries of Sri Lanka’s calibre. If the contradictions between the main players take a particularly acute form, it ...
‘US-Sri Lanka: 70 years of a fruitful partnership’ Source:-dailynews Part 2 Q: Touching on the Hambantota Port and some of these other investments and projects that have been occurring, regarding the aspects of China’s relationship with Sri Lanka, do they raise concerns within U.S. government circles about Sri Lanka’s sovereignty? A: Yes. Frankly, they do. And the American approach, the U.S. approach, is one where we would like to see countries able to fully exert their sovereignty over their territory, over their exclusive economic zones particularly in the maritime space. This is essential. And projects that maybe don’t obviously infringe on a country’s sovereignty can do so in maybe kind of back doorways. I come back to the potential for leverage. If a country, it may not even be majorly indebted to another bilateral partner but the agreements that they signed have onerous requirements in them or would lead them ...
Take a tour of the Hambantota Port with us ...
Officially adds “Port City” reclaimed land to Colombo map Author:LBO Posted on July 24, 2019 Jul 24, 2019 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Minister for Megapolis and Western Province Development said the Ministry of Local Government will be tabling an act in parliament to add ‘Port City’ as part of the Divisional Secretary of Colombo. The new city will function as a special jurisdiction area with its own economic and commercial laws to facilitate operations of global multinational corporations. The completed city will have reclaimed 269 hectares with 116 hectares being handed over to China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), which is the parent company of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). The remaining land, which will be owned by the Sri Lankan Government and will be divided with 62 hectares to be used to set up a financial city and 91 hectares to be used as public spaces. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka ...
