Sri Lanka Perspectives - August 2012

  Highlights

• Security forces organised two international events to highlight their contribution to the nation’s effort in reconstruction and rehabilitation in war torn zone in North and East.
• The first-ever visit by the Chinese defence minister to Sri Lanka shows the increasing Chinese interest in the island nation.
• As provincial council elections approach, more reports of political violence had been reported. Widespread misuse of government resources by the candidates of ruling coalition has been reported. In Eastern Province, the stand-off between the two major Muslim parties – the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the Muslim National Congress (MNC) turned violent.   
•  Tamil Eelam Supporters Conference in Chennai turns out to be a damp squib although it has rallied support for the Eelam Tamils. This triggered objection to training Sri Lanka army officers in military institutions in India has once again become a political issue in Tamil Nadu.   

 

Highlighting role of security forces

As international focus has shifted on Sri Lanka’s implementation of Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission’s (LLRC) recommendations, security forces are publicising their significant contribution to bring back normalcy in the war affected zones. Two international events – a three-day defence seminar with “Towards lasting peace and stability” from August 8 to 10 and a two-day international symposium with the theme “Ensuring national security through reconciliation and sustainable development” on August 22-23 have been organised at Colombo.    

The defence seminar was attended by 250 local and international delegates was addressed by speakers from India, Pakistan, UK and the US to showcase Sri Lanka’s efforts to carry out rehabilitation, reintegration, reconstruction, resettlement and reconciliation in post-war period. In his key note address Secretary of Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that what Sri Lanka has accomplished in third year of peace and stability after the defeat of terrorism was worth studying.  He noted that out of 295,873 internally displaced people except for 10,000 LTTE suspects undergoing rehabilitation programme others have been settled.  Army had a massive demining operation extracting 469,275 anti personnel mines, and 1,301 anti-tank mines and detecting 388,963 unexploded ordnances.

Growing Chinese profile

Chinese defence minister’s visit: The first-ever visit by China’s National Defence Minister General Liang Guanglie on a five-day visit to Sri Lanka from August 29 indicates China’s growing interest in the island nation.  The Minister heading a 23-member delegation called upon the President on August 29. He also visited the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) and the Defence Service College (DSC) – a national school established for children of defence services and police personnel. Speaking at the DSCSC he stressed the time tested friendship between the two countries and referred to China’s role as an inseparable companion in Sri Lanka's effort to eliminate terrorism. During his visit to the DSC, students delivered their welcome and thanks in Chinese which was appreciated by the visiting dignitary. The General announced a donation of $30 million to the DSC, the highest ever made to an academic institution. China is providing US$ 100 million for army welfare projects initiated by the Ministry of Defence to set up accommodation and infrastructure facilities in army camps in the north and east.

China to finance railway construction: China will be giving Sri Lanka $ 278 million credit to finance the construction of a 26.75 Km railway track from Matara to Beliatta which forms part of the plan to connect  Matara with pilgrim centre of Kataragama. The Exim Bank was to provide $ 200 million under preferential buyer’s credit terms and the Chinese government will provide a concessional loan of RMB 508 million.

China to finance Phase II of Hambantota port development: The Exim Bank of China has agreed to provide a loan of $ 600 million and the Chinese government has agreed to extend a concessional loan of RMB one billion to finance Phase II of Hambantota Port Development Project. The objective of Phase II will be to make Hambantota a strong supplementary port to Colombo port as an international hub to consolidate Sri Lanka’s status as a container trans-shipment hub in South Asian Region.

Continuing woes of Norochcholai power plant: The massive Chinese funded Sri Lanka’s first-ever coal fired power plant at Norochcholai, with 12 breakdowns in first 18 months of operation, has become a major source of embarrassment to the government as well as to China. Though the plant was designed to generate 900 MW of power on completion of all the three phases, after the first phase was finished the plant had been struggling to meet the production target of 300 MW. Vice Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said the China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) - the Chinese contractor had used substandard equipment and, therefore, some parts of the plant were corroded.  However, the Chinese chairman of the power plant refuting it said the postponement of annual maintenance by the CEB and forcing the plant to work beyond its limits due to shortage of hydro-power was the cause for its breakdown. A team of seven Chinese engineers have been brought to repair the power plant.

TESO conference and its aftermath

The much heralded Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation organised by the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) held at Chennai on August 12 lost much of its steam, after the DMK leader Karunanidhi gave in to Centre’s demand to drop the focus on Tamil Eelam. The conference passed a number of resolutions which reflected the views of Tamil Diaspora and included points made by Tamil National Alliance. After the conference political parties in Tamil Nadu were vying with each other to pillory Sri Lanka for the woes of Tamils. The continued training of Sri Lanka army personnel in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu has become a visible sore issue. Chief Minister Jayalalitha, in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, reiterated that the union government should show consideration and regard for the sentiments of the people of the State and send back Sri Lanka defence under training immediately. She condemned the insensitivity of the Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju’s response that the Central government would continue to train Sri Lankan armed forces members as it was a friendly country. Both the DMK leader M Karunanidhi and the Pattali Makka Katchi (PMK) leader Dr Ramadoss also asked the Centre to stop training Sri Lanka military personnel. 

Provincial council election violence

The Network for Election Monitoring and Intellectuals for Human Rights (NEMIHR) which is monitoring the poll campaigns has said election related incidents were increasing as  campaigning heated up in Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North-Central provinces for the September 8 elections. It said that it had received 244 complaints of election violations.

Major incidents of violence were torching of a JVP propaganda office while five SLMC offices in Amapara district in Eastern Province were attacked. Misuse of government vehicles, offices and circuit bungalows by the candidates of ruling UPFA coalition was widespread. In a major clash between the supporters of SLMC and the MNC an SLMC office was partially torched and several vehicles belonging to both sides damaged. It subsided only with the deployment of the Special Task Force, a paramilitary outfit.  

Written on August 31, 2012

Courtesy: South Asian Security Trends, Volume 6, No 8 - September 2012 
URL: www.security-risks.com