Why A Land Bridge Between Sri Lanka and India Is Not Such A Good Idea
Posted on March 1st, 2016
Insight By Sunil Kumar
March 1st, 2016
Considering the latst US move to coerce Sri Lanka into its Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor (IPEC) program it appears as though it may not be beneficial to Sri Lankla from many perspectives.
Apparently there are sources in powerful places internationally with intentions to put pressure on Colombo to accept the Asian Development Bank-funded Indian project to build a bridge between India and Sri Lanka across the Palk Strait but it could create vast incidental security issues and is more than likely to even compromise the Territorial Integrity and Sovereignity of the Island Nation to an incomprehensible degree where any plans to implement such an action needs to be nipped in the bud and viewed as a diabolical idea perhaps with a sinister agenda behind it by those trying to initiate such a plan.
Such a bridge seems just what the doctor ordered for Tamil Nadu to get a foothold on Sri Lanka at a time when tensions between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka are rife over various issues and the plan unthinkable from the perspective of Sri Lanka’s National Security which could also imperil all Sri Lankans who have only just recovered from the evils of Tamil Tiger Terrorism that once threatened to destroy and disrupt the smooth functioning of the country where the administration and the armed forces had to wage a near three decade long defensive campaign to quell it.
It must also be remembered that the Tamil Tigers despite being defunct have always vowed to resume their activities within Sri Lanka given the slightest opportunity and such a move ( the bridge in question) seems a golden opportunity for them to do just that, remembering that there are underground cells of the LTTE still circulating in the country. So this appears to be a case of playing with fire despite the so called economic benefits and the media hoopla and hype imitiated by US Secretary Kerry whose latest rhetoric points to US corecion over the issue.
Hopefully in hindsight the Sri Lanka Administration will not be baited into accepting the proposal of a land bridge at random and eventually face disastrous consequences unless there are strict measures to enforce who gains access to Sri Lanka from the South of India but even if such measures are implemented, the risk to National Security and the pouring in of undesirables and the like seems imminent and the plan- if there is such a plan- with the Sri Lankan authorities mulling over its pros and cons is better off abandoned before things get complicated rather than face far reaching consequences in the long term.
If one reads between the lines it certainly points to India’s interest in annexing Sir Lankan territory and Sri Lanka’s gullibility to accede to such a move where only the likes of the myopic Ranil Wickremasinge and his partners in administration could further accentuate the issue.
US-SL Strategic Dialogue Could Lead to Lanka’s Accepting Land Bridge With India
By P.K.Balachandran
COLOMBO: The US move to rope Sri Lanka into its Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor (IPEC) program may put pressure on Colombo to accept the Asian Development Bank-funded Indian project to build a bridge between India and Sri Lanka across the Palk Strait.
The communiqué issued at the conclusion of the first US-Lanka Strategic Dialogue held in Washington on Monday, said that the United States encouraged Sri Lankan participation in its Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor initiative to increase economic connectivity among South Asian countries and with Southeast Asia, which is congruent with Sri Lanka’s participation in BIMSTEC and other forums.”
That economic connectivity” also includes transit across borders, was clearly indicated by US Secretary of State John Kerry at the US-India Strategic Dialogue in 2013.
The Japanese-led Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is funding infrastructure projects all over South and South East Asia, had revived the idea of a bridge between India and Lanka as part of its cross-border highway connectivity project.
After India concluded the ADB-funded US$ 8 billion highways agreement with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal in June 2015, ADB top brass suggested to the Indian Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, that India have a road linkage with Lanka also. They also promised to allocate US$ 5.19 billion for the project.
Gadkari lapped up the idea and raised the matter when Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe visited New Delhi in September 2015. How Wickremesinghe reacted to the suggestion is not known, but the official line in Colombo is that India has not officially raised the issue.
The Lankan government’s reserve is dictated by the exigencies of domestic politics where the very idea of a land bridge with India raises the hackles of nationalists who fear an invasion of Indians.
However, Lanka is likely to come under increasing pressure from the West to give up its reserve in such matters.
The West is looking to investing in the island and is counting on Lanka’s becoming a part of the Indian supply chain.
And the ADB is widening its footprint in the island with a fresh infrastructural aid package of US$ 2 billion announced on February 23 by its President, Takehiko Nakao.
March 1st, 2016 at 4:37 pm
Why US is not pressuring UK to join Europe as there is already a Chunnel there?
US is replacing UK in the new global Empire the US-Indian Empire. The reason yellow peril.
March 1st, 2016 at 7:07 pm
QUOTE the article
“………strict measures to enforce who gains access to Sri Lanka from the South of India but even if such measures are implemented, the risk to National Security and the pouring in of undesirables and the like seems imminent and the plan-…”
100% TRUE.
Every move by ANYONE including those who carry the PATRIOT banner shall be monitored and studied closely.
Always think as a Tamil and try to undersant the moves. Remember,
1. ELAM means Sri Lanaka in Tamil. The whole of Sri Lanka.
2. It belongs to Tamils and Sinhalese have grabbed it 2000 years ago.
3. All resourses including likely oil/ Gas deposites belong to Tamils
4. With the help of whoever Tamils should take it back. Tamils should create there Israel.
5. Then Tamils will let Sinhala Modayas live freely. Until then we should drain Elam resources until it is dead.
Every Sinhalse has a duty ( not a right) to go against these aspirations of Tamils. Duty is not complete until we achieve the goals, ( in the order of priority)
1. Sinhalaya has economic independece from minorities.
2. We have strong Armed Forces capable of fighting Inida until further help arrives ( from whoever)
3. Name of the country shall be Sinhale , and all languages shall use the same name,
4. No divisions based on races languages.
5. All Sinhalans shall be fluent in Sinhala and English ( linking to the world), no religous grouping will be allowed.
Will a brdidge help to meet our goals ?
Who is going to police the huge influx of poverty towards Sinhale ? Poverty in India is 20% ( 250 million), Sinhale 10% ( 1 million). Per capita Income of Sinhale in doubled that of India. Therefore a workfoce to check out migration of 250 Inidans will be beyond our capablilities. If Inidan wants it then they must pay it in full. This inludes strengthening of Army, Navy and Airforce near and around the bridge/ Indians must agree to pay all.
This income can be a huge sum and employement benifit is enormous. But will India agree to it ? I don’t see any politician aske for it. They don’t even think about how it can manage vehicles, kallathonis, Muslim extremists visiting us to give us foreign inccome.
Problem is we don’t have leaders to think straight and work for the country. Not a single ONE. All are crooks waiting to profit from every move. So, all moves are wrong. War is nothing to them, they and their children will not die.
March 1st, 2016 at 7:29 pm
If it is a GOOD idea or a BAD idea does NOT matter. We are NOT in control. Obviously it is a BAD idea. What matters is HOW Singhalese and SL are going to SURVIVE after the bridge is built. Make no mistake. The bridge will come up. BOTH USA and Endia want it. ALL our politicians are Endian and US relatives.
Lets discuss HOW Singhalese and SL are going to SURVIVE after the bridge is built.
1. Elections will have MILLIONS of Endians voting for UNP
2. Tamils from TN will become SL citizens and grab the lands of others
3. Endians will grab SL jobs
4. SL will become an Endian state
HOW can these things be stopped??
PAKISTAN and CHINA will NOT join the club. How can we get their help to bust this evil project?
Now it is very clear why USA and Endia helped SL win the war. IF war was around, USA and Endia would NOT be able to do this!! LTTE would have PROTECTED SL better than politicians (at a small cost).
March 1st, 2016 at 8:58 pm
Bridge can be stooped and MUST be stopped.
Best advice is cannot rely on India’s brothers and friends to stop it.
March 2nd, 2016 at 2:27 am
Thank you,but no thank you. Since Sri Lankans are not welcome in TN this will be a bridge for Indians only.
March 2nd, 2016 at 5:05 am
Since Sri Lankans are not welcome in TN this will be a bridge for Indians only.- Agreed Sri Lankan means including We-Ilankai Thamilar as well
eg: When we-Ilankai Tamils arrive in any indian airport including Chennai We get very low class treatment
Our Mother Lanka is always best for all of us .
NB/
Do not worry machang We will kick our Indian when our time come but watch us once we complete our job We both have old account ( Mulli vakkal ) to sort out.
March 2nd, 2016 at 8:11 am
Connect Sri Lanka to india by a bridge will make our country a part of india. The us, uk backed plan is to
keep China away from Sri Lanka good. No Chinese presence in the indian ocean, us, uk, india can rule the waves.
We are being made a pawn in this power struggle. The best thing for Sri Lanka, especially for the Sinhalese, would’ve
been to side with the Chinese. They would’ve developed the country fast and made us an emerging nation in Asia.
But when you have the west-back licking pol pot ponil’s UNPatriotic party the last thing you can expect is progress.
They always fool the masses and cause mayhem and murder (to Sinhalese only). Now the destroyers of Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese and Buddhism at the wheel. What can the Sinhalese expect? Demise of the above three.
Please read Dr Ruwan J’s article a few days ago about ronnie gunasinha and pay special attention to the
last comment!
Please read Dr Ruwan J’s article a few days ago about ronnie gunasinha and pay special attention to the last comment!
Please read Dr Ruwan J’s article a few days ago about ronnie gunasinha and pay special attention to the last comment!
Please read Dr Ruwan J’s article a few days ago about ronnie gunasinha and pay special attention to the last comment!
Please read Dr Ruwan J’s article a few days ago about ronnie gunasinha and pay special attention to the last comment!
Please use the two links in my comment as well.
March 2nd, 2016 at 10:30 am
In lighter vein it may be said ” Darn those Indians whose social order represent a bunch of marauding jackals. Who disrespect, rape and pillage their women using a decrepit culture which has a phallic symbol as a beacon and all the lame excuse to overpopulate their land overflowing with teeming masses of impoverished humanity. They are now conniving for a means to creep into Sri Lanka when already there are enough Kallathonis who need to be shipped back to where they came from!” ha ha !! OPEN YOUR EYES USA and in your blinkered stupidity do not pawn Sri Lanka towards your own means!
March 2nd, 2016 at 12:32 pm
Who will benefit from the bridge to Tamil Nadu ?
Certainly not Lankans – not Sinhala or Tamil or Muslim people.
With Caste/poverty ridden Indians from Tamil Nadu pouring into Lanka via such a bridge, Caste will be re-imposed on Lankans. There are soem 15 Million Tamil Dalit people in Tamil Nadu. They want to leave TN. A bridge will facilitate such a mass exodus out of TN, into Lanka.
Therefore, such a bridge ought not be constructed/allowed.
*. CBK/RW duo are keen on this bridge ? (Ranil’s Chunnel)
*. India is keen on the bridge.
*. How is it to be stopped ?
Agree with Sunil M. : Kallathonis must be shipped back.
March 2nd, 2016 at 10:23 pm
S.A. Kumar, I think the moderator did not read between your lines!!!! Usually none of my comments get approved on this site!!!!
March 3rd, 2016 at 4:04 am
What is now happening to EU will happen to Sri Lanka. There will be endless flow of Kallathonis to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka will be obliged to give them land, housing and jobs. This will be the end of Sri Lanka as we know it. We are already suffering from the influx of Tamils during Portuguese, Dutch and British times.
What India wants is a direct land route to Trincomalee to get control of the deep water harbour for themselves. The idiotic Rajapakses only won the Eelam battles but did not consolidate the end of the war by putting permanent placements for the security of our island nation.
The war winning Ranaviuwoes should have been given representation in the Parliament, for it is they who risk life and limb when the nation is in peril. For now they are only used as cannon fodder to do the politicians’ bidding. Now they are being prosecuted by the Christian / Catholic Ponna Ranil regime in cahoots with turncoat Aappaya.