Col R Hariharan
Sri
Lanka Perspectives October 2021| South Asia Security Trends November
2021 | www.security-risk.com
Happenings in Sri Lanka during the month of October 2021 can be
summarised as “Politics of Majoritarianism, Security and Scams.” President
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, known for goal-oriented action. But two of his recent
decisions, abolition of the use of chemical fertilizers and introducing “one
country one law” are having ripple effect not only on economy and ethnic peace,
but also on relations with China and India. The name of one of the Rajapaksa’s
figuring in the Pandora papers is probably yet another scam in the making. The
month saw India making news more than once in the media. Visits by Secretary
for External Affairs Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Indian army chief General MM Narvane, Indian and
Sri Lankan armies’ joint exercise and visit by six warships of Indian Navy
highlighted India’s sustained interest in making India-Sri Lanka relations
multi-faceted.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had imposed a total ban on agrochemicals
including fertilizers and pesticides in May, to make farming totally organic. It
also helped the cash strapped government save around $400 million for import of
fertilizers. The President’s action was ill timed, as the economy was already
reeling from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Tea industry and farmers
cried hoarse as shortage of fertilizers peaked and food prices shot up. In
August, the government placed an order for the import of 96,000 tonnes of organic
fertilizer with Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group, a Chinese company. The samples of
the imported fertilizer were found to contain Erwinia and other harmful
bacteria when tested by Sri Lanka’s National Plant Quarantine Service. The
Chinese embassy in Colombo condemned the tests, questioning the competency of
the testing agency and maintaining the fertilizer was found sterile on testing
before export. The Department of Agriculture banned import of all fertilizers
from China and the agriculture ministry suspended the $ 63 million contract
awarded to the company. To make up Sri Lanka’s urgent needs, India organised
the supply of 3.1 million litres of nano liquid fertilizer, which were tested
and found to be free of contamination.
The whole episode was a big loss of face for China. China took exception to
Sri Lanka scientists’ action and wants the samples tested at another laboratory
“acceptable to both sides”. The Chinese embassy has black listed the
state-owned Peoples Bank of Sri Lanka for not paying the contracted amount. Sri
Lanka has now announced that it was reversing the decision on import of
fertilizer to help growers of Ceylon tea, one of the main foreign exchange
earners.
President Rajapaksa’s appointment of a 13-member Presidential Task Force (PTF)
headed by the controversial Buddhist cleric Galagodaathhe Gnanasara to
implement the concept of “One Country, One Law” (OCOCL) has drawn a lot of flak
from opposition parties and civil society on many counts. The PTF is tasked to
“make a study of the implementation of the concept ‘One Country One Law’ and
prepare a draft Act for the purpose and submit a report by February 28, 2022.”
The announcement of a PTF on OCOL comes as no surprise;
the President had used it as a slogan during his 2019 presidential campaign to
garner Sinhala Buddhist votes. Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) in a
statement has pointed out the concept of “One Country, One Law” smacks of
majoritarianism. It added that it was “by no means an expression of a desire
for equality or equal protection under the law.” It also questioned the
President’s style of governance through task forces.
The appointment of Gnanasara Thera to head the PTF,
surprised many. Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harin Fernando
pointed out the PTF is headed by someone who is blamed by the Presidential
Commission of Inquiry which probed the Easter Sundays attacks of April 21, 2019
and whom the Commission has also called to be prosecuted. The Colombo daily
Island aptly editorialised: “It defies comprehension why the President has
handpicked as the head of the PTF as person who was granted a presidential
pardon while serving a sentence for contempt of court, which in other words
means causing an affront to the dignity of the judiciary”. Its question “How
come the President thinks a person sentenced to jail for violating the law is
fit to carry out his one country one law project” though relevant will continue
to remain unanswered.
Moreover, the PTF is constituted a few months after the
cabinet took a decision to amend the country’s Muslim personal laws. At
present, The Kandyan Law and Thesawalamai Law apply to Sinhala and Tamil
communities respectively. In view of this it is doubtful the PTF composed of
nine Sinhalese members and four Muslims but no Tamils is competent to sit and
evolve OCOL that would deliver justice to all ethnic communities.
India-Sri Lanka relations
appear to be seriously undergoing some repair. After India came with a supply
of nano nitrogen organic fertilizer to bale out Sri Lanka from the fertilizer
crisis, Sri Lanka was reported to be seeking $500 million credit from India to
pay for petroleum purchases as petrol shortage reached a critical stage. India may accommodate Sri Lanka’s request as
oil shortage can cripple the country’s economy, already battered by the impact
of Covid-19 pandemic. In this context, it
is interesting to note the issue Sri Lanka finalising India’s longstanding
offer to develop the oil tank farms at Trincomalee came up when India’s Foreign
Secretary Harsh Shringla called upon the President during his three-day visit
to Colombo. Elevating bilateral relationship of to a strategic level,
bolstering foreign investments and expand strategic cooperation in defence and
Indian Ocean security are probably some of the issues the Foreign Secretary
discussed with the President and the Prime Minister during his Colombo visit.
He is said to have stressed the importance taking forward long pending projects
beneficial to both countries and enhancing air and sea connectivity. He
reiterated India’s position on complete implementation of the provisions under
the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, including devolution of
powers and holding of provincial elections at the earliest.
A week after the Indian Foreign
Secretary’s visit, Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane visited Sri Lanka.
He is also said to have underscored the importance India attaches to
expeditiously taking forward mutually beneficial projects. During his meeting
with the President, General Naravane said India “highly expects” the stability
of neighbouring countries for regional security. According to the Presidential
Media Division, a specially designed training course for 50 army officers will
be provided to Sri Lanka in the near future at the request of the Chief of
Defence Staff and the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army. It is interesting to
note India-Sri Lanka joint army training exercise Mitra Shakthi was being held
during his visit.
[Col R
Hariharan, a retire MI specialist on South Asia and terrorism, served as the
head of intelligence of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka 1987-90. He
is associated with the Chennai Centre for China Studies. Email: haridirect@gmail.com
Website: https://col.hariharan.info]
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