JOIN USDuring Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to India, the two countries have signed a slew of agreements relating to security, energy, infrastructure and reconstruction. These can be expected to cement already firm bilateral ties. India has agreed to connect the power grids of the two countries. This will enhance electrical power supply to Sri Lanka significantly. India has done well to extend a helping hand to the Tamils on the island. It has promised to build 50,000 houses for those displaced by the war. It has already extended a generous aid package for reconstruction of the war-ravaged Tamil areas and the agreements reached during Rajapaksa’s visit on building rail lines and renovating other infrastructure will take the process of rebuilding the North forward. Besides various development projects that will provide skills and jobs to the Tamils are in the pipeline and these will help the North get back on its feet again.
India-Sri Lanka relations have undoubtedly come a long way over the years. But differences on key issues are standing in the way of the two countries realising the full potential of bilateral co-operation. There is unease in India with the Rajapaksa government’s obvious reluctance to find a political solution to the ethnic conflict. In Delhi the president reiterated his commitment to finding a political settlement acceptable to all communities. He needs to act now on his promises. He has both popular support and political clout to push for a settlement of the conflict. What is clearly lacking is the political will. As for India, beyond chanting for implementation of the 13th amendment, which it brokered over two decades ago, it appears to have no fresh ideas to jumpstart the process. This has prompted criticism from some quarters that India is sacrificing the interests of the Tamils at the altar of its economic ambitions in Sri Lanka.
But neither is the economic relationship doing too well. While trade is growing, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is yet to become a reality. A shrill debate on CEPA preceded Rajapaksa’s visit to India, raising concern here that Sri Lanka might be having second thoughts about taking this agreement forward. There are fears in Sri Lanka that CEPA will destroy the local economy. But these fears are being fuelled by Sinhala nationalist sections. Delhi must counter their anti-India propaganda on the matter by putting the facts on the table.