India wanted Sri Lanka to stop Colombo Port City – Gotabaya
Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa says that India’s National Security Advisor had requested the former Sri Lankan government to stop the Chinese-funded Colombo Port City project as it would pose a threat to that country’s security.
Rajapaksa stated that when the BJP government of India came to power, it was his responsibility to meet and hold talks with his Indian counterpart – National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval.
“His primary request was to stop the (Colombo) Port City. If it was presented to our government, then it definitely must have been presented to this government.”
“The reason he gave was that the Port City was a threat to the security of India,” the former Defence Secretary said, addressing a seminar on the topic of ‘Mega development, the country’s future and mega myths’.
Rajapaksa said that the former government assured India’s National Security Advisor that the Colombo Port City project would not pose a threat to India.
“I don’t know how this government is facing such demands,” he added.
(Ada Derana)
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Once upon a time not very mto few any years back one would see many cargo ships berthed outside Colombo harbour waiting either to be serviced or off load cargo for the Colombo Port could not handle more than a few ships at a given time. Then unloading cargo chaotic and the procedure that followed was just bad. The port had storage facility and this was contracted few companies that cleared the cargo and subsequently cosigned the cargo to their destinations. This chain of events led to so much corruption and the much touted laundering of ethanol and narcotics contributed a lot to the confusion that prevailed.
Those opposed to this project were the same that opposed the defeat of LTTE their attitude was and is a reflection of their long term objective. Sri Lanka is a strategic position in that it can monitor the movement of shipping across the Indian ocean to the west and east and there are thousands or more a year. Occasionally ships dock in for maintenance and services that Sri Lanka can ill afford however it is an important source of revenue peace time as well as in war. During war major powers will fight for a pice like the Dutch and then the British did in the past and the Sri Lankans will have to say liitle about occupation and they will not be compassionate like Srisena or Rajapaksa. So it is very important that we make alliance with those that matter …..this is the only salvation. Process of colonisation involves famine and disease and the urban populations are more vulnerable to it than those live on subsistence.
Indian concern is justified, however India has done little to defend Lankan sovereignty in fact India
openly supported the LTTE. An on one occasion India unilaterally violated Lankan air space. So if India means well then India ought to then she ought to sign treaties of non aggression by the South Indian states.
”Your Excellency Mr. Modi,
We are at your beck and call. , Sir. We deeply regret for lack of statesmanship and cordiality by the previous regime towards you and your country. I shall forthwith stop all the progress and in fact cancel or remove all the works done by the unscrupulous set of politicians to fatten their glorification.
Please feel free to advise me on any other requirement in future.
Panil. ”