• Latest
  • Most Read
Little fear, lots of diplomacy: How India hater Gotabaya Rajapaksa turned into a friend

Little fear, lots of diplomacy: How India hater Gotabaya Rajapaksa turned into a friend

4 years ago
The strange tale of Rabinder Singh, the CIA mole who ended up as a nobody

The strange tale of Rabinder Singh, the CIA mole who ended up as a nobody

3 days ago
Karnam Malleswari: The greatest woman sports icon ignored by Bharat

Karnam Malleswari: The greatest woman sports icon ignored by Bharat

3 days ago
Alliance between Khalistanis and Manipur seperatists?

Alliance between Khalistanis and Manipur seperatists?

3 days ago
We need to resuscitate abandoned temples, not beg for “World Heritage Site Status”!

We need to resuscitate abandoned temples, not beg for “World Heritage Site Status”!

3 days ago
Manish Kashyap: The Thorn in Nitish Kumar’s Side

Manish Kashyap: The Thorn in Nitish Kumar’s Side

3 days ago
Rahul Sharma: A true symbol of Sanatana Dharma

Rahul Sharma: A true symbol of Sanatana Dharma

3 days ago
Maharaja Kharavela: Perhaps the greatest Indian King ever

Maharaja Kharavela: Perhaps the greatest Indian King ever

3 days ago
The Vaccine War review: Yes, Bharat can do it!

The Vaccine War review: Yes, Bharat can do it!

3 days ago
Debt is where AAP is!

Debt is where AAP is!

3 days ago
Who is Jaswant Singh Gill, the inspiration behind ‘Mission Raniganj’?

Who is Jaswant Singh Gill, the inspiration behind ‘Mission Raniganj’?

3 days ago
Operation: Home Ministry orders CBI probe against Kejriwal’s “Sheeshmahal”!

Operation: Home Ministry orders CBI probe against Kejriwal’s “Sheeshmahal”!

3 days ago
Washington Post leaks the truth about Nijjar’s death

Washington Post leaks the truth about Nijjar’s death

4 days ago
No, OYO is not the communion spot for horny youngsters!

No, OYO is not the communion spot for horny youngsters!

4 days ago
IAS officer Rinku Dugga who took her dog for a walk in the stadium “Compulsorily Retired”!

IAS officer Rinku Dugga who took her dog for a walk in the stadium “Compulsorily Retired”!

4 days ago
AFSPA re-imposed in Manipur after several months!

AFSPA re-imposed in Manipur after several months!

4 days ago
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Brand Partnerships
TFI Official Merchandise
TFI हिन्दी
TFI Global
Monday, October 2, 2023
Tfipost.com
  • Premium
  • Politics
    • All
    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
    Karnam Malleswari: The greatest woman sports icon ignored by Bharat

    Karnam Malleswari: The greatest woman sports icon ignored by Bharat

    Alliance between Khalistanis and Manipur seperatists?

    Alliance between Khalistanis and Manipur seperatists?

    We need to resuscitate abandoned temples, not beg for “World Heritage Site Status”!

    We need to resuscitate abandoned temples, not beg for “World Heritage Site Status”!

    Manish Kashyap: The Thorn in Nitish Kumar’s Side

    Manish Kashyap: The Thorn in Nitish Kumar’s Side

    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
  • Economy
    • All
    • Business
    • Economy1
    • Finance
    How TVS transformed from a truck maker to a motorcycle giant

    How TVS transformed from a truck maker to a motorcycle giant

    ASUS to relocate its primary manufacturing hub from China to India

    ASUS to relocate its primary manufacturing hub from China to India

    US Business Basics: Essential Legal and Regulatory Insights for Indian Founders

    US Business Basics: Essential Legal and Regulatory Insights for Indian Founders

    Why IKEAs and Urban Ladders could not replace the friendly neighbourhood carpenter

    Why IKEAs and Urban Ladders could not replace the friendly neighbourhood carpenter

    • Business
    • Finance
  • Defense
    • All
    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
    new CBI director Praveen sood biography

    Who is Praveen Sood the New CBI Director: Professional Background, Achievements and Significance of the Appointment

    Paramjit Singh Panjwar shot dead

    Paramjit Singh Panjwar shot dead: Keep calm and trust the Indian Armed Forces

    Swarm satellites

    India’s Bold Step towards Satellite Swarm Intelligence: A New Era in Space Technology

    INS Vikrant gets historic 1961 bell of 1st warship from ex-Navy vice chief

    INS Vikrant gets historic 1961 bell of 1st warship from ex-Navy vice chief

    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
  • Geopolitics
    • All
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
    Washington Post leaks the truth about Nijjar’s death

    Washington Post leaks the truth about Nijjar’s death

    The sad, tragic journey of Justin Trudeau

    The sad, tragic journey of Justin Trudeau

    Canada learns diplomacy the “Jaishankar Way”

    Canada learns diplomacy the “Jaishankar Way”

    “Why don’t ask Pakistan for Khalistan?” Canadian journalist drops a bombshell

    “Why don’t ask Pakistan for Khalistan?” Canadian journalist drops a bombshell

    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
  • Knowledge
    • All
    • Culture
    • Education
    • History
    • Indology
    The strange tale of Rabinder Singh, the CIA mole who ended up as a nobody

    The strange tale of Rabinder Singh, the CIA mole who ended up as a nobody

    Maharaja Kharavela: Perhaps the greatest Indian King ever

    Maharaja Kharavela: Perhaps the greatest Indian King ever

    NAVIGATING THE CCNA EXAM: A BEGINNER’S HANDBOOK TO IT CERTIFICATION

    NAVIGATING THE CCNA EXAM: A BEGINNER’S HANDBOOK TO IT CERTIFICATION

    When BR Ambedkar openly challenged the Nizam Shahi

    When BR Ambedkar openly challenged the Nizam Shahi

    • Culture
    • History
    • Indology
  • Law
  • Lounge
    • All
    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Games
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Satire
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    The Vaccine War review: Yes, Bharat can do it!

    The Vaccine War review: Yes, Bharat can do it!

    Who is Jaswant Singh Gill, the inspiration behind ‘Mission Raniganj’?

    Who is Jaswant Singh Gill, the inspiration behind ‘Mission Raniganj’?

    Sanath Jayasuriya, the greatest all-rounder who never got his due

    Sanath Jayasuriya, the greatest all-rounder who never got his due

    Celery Soup health benefits

    9 Health Benefits of Celery Soup: Exploring the Nutritional Elixir

    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Health
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    • Satire
No Result
View All Result
Tfipost.com
  • Premium
  • Politics
    • All
    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
    Karnam Malleswari: The greatest woman sports icon ignored by Bharat

    Karnam Malleswari: The greatest woman sports icon ignored by Bharat

    Alliance between Khalistanis and Manipur seperatists?

    Alliance between Khalistanis and Manipur seperatists?

    We need to resuscitate abandoned temples, not beg for “World Heritage Site Status”!

    We need to resuscitate abandoned temples, not beg for “World Heritage Site Status”!

    Manish Kashyap: The Thorn in Nitish Kumar’s Side

    Manish Kashyap: The Thorn in Nitish Kumar’s Side

    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
  • Economy
    • All
    • Business
    • Economy1
    • Finance
    How TVS transformed from a truck maker to a motorcycle giant

    How TVS transformed from a truck maker to a motorcycle giant

    ASUS to relocate its primary manufacturing hub from China to India

    ASUS to relocate its primary manufacturing hub from China to India

    US Business Basics: Essential Legal and Regulatory Insights for Indian Founders

    US Business Basics: Essential Legal and Regulatory Insights for Indian Founders

    Why IKEAs and Urban Ladders could not replace the friendly neighbourhood carpenter

    Why IKEAs and Urban Ladders could not replace the friendly neighbourhood carpenter

    • Business
    • Finance
  • Defense
    • All
    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
    new CBI director Praveen sood biography

    Who is Praveen Sood the New CBI Director: Professional Background, Achievements and Significance of the Appointment

    Paramjit Singh Panjwar shot dead

    Paramjit Singh Panjwar shot dead: Keep calm and trust the Indian Armed Forces

    Swarm satellites

    India’s Bold Step towards Satellite Swarm Intelligence: A New Era in Space Technology

    INS Vikrant gets historic 1961 bell of 1st warship from ex-Navy vice chief

    INS Vikrant gets historic 1961 bell of 1st warship from ex-Navy vice chief

    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
  • Geopolitics
    • All
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
    Washington Post leaks the truth about Nijjar’s death

    Washington Post leaks the truth about Nijjar’s death

    The sad, tragic journey of Justin Trudeau

    The sad, tragic journey of Justin Trudeau

    Canada learns diplomacy the “Jaishankar Way”

    Canada learns diplomacy the “Jaishankar Way”

    “Why don’t ask Pakistan for Khalistan?” Canadian journalist drops a bombshell

    “Why don’t ask Pakistan for Khalistan?” Canadian journalist drops a bombshell

    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
  • Knowledge
    • All
    • Culture
    • Education
    • History
    • Indology
    The strange tale of Rabinder Singh, the CIA mole who ended up as a nobody

    The strange tale of Rabinder Singh, the CIA mole who ended up as a nobody

    Maharaja Kharavela: Perhaps the greatest Indian King ever

    Maharaja Kharavela: Perhaps the greatest Indian King ever

    NAVIGATING THE CCNA EXAM: A BEGINNER’S HANDBOOK TO IT CERTIFICATION

    NAVIGATING THE CCNA EXAM: A BEGINNER’S HANDBOOK TO IT CERTIFICATION

    When BR Ambedkar openly challenged the Nizam Shahi

    When BR Ambedkar openly challenged the Nizam Shahi

    • Culture
    • History
    • Indology
  • Law
  • Lounge
    • All
    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Games
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Satire
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    The Vaccine War review: Yes, Bharat can do it!

    The Vaccine War review: Yes, Bharat can do it!

    Who is Jaswant Singh Gill, the inspiration behind ‘Mission Raniganj’?

    Who is Jaswant Singh Gill, the inspiration behind ‘Mission Raniganj’?

    Sanath Jayasuriya, the greatest all-rounder who never got his due

    Sanath Jayasuriya, the greatest all-rounder who never got his due

    Celery Soup health benefits

    9 Health Benefits of Celery Soup: Exploring the Nutritional Elixir

    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Health
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    • Satire
No Result
View All Result
Tfipost.com
No Result
View All Result

HOME » Politics » Opinions » Little fear, lots of diplomacy: How India hater Gotabaya Rajapaksa turned into a friend

Little fear, lots of diplomacy: How India hater Gotabaya Rajapaksa turned into a friend

The story of a U-Turn that we aren’t complaining about

Akshay Narang
by Akshay Narang
18 November 2019
in Opinions
0
Little fear, lots of diplomacy: How India hater Gotabaya Rajapaksa turned into a friend
1.1k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Even as Gotabaya Rajapaksa was slowly inching towards a historic victory in the Sri Lankan Presidential elections, it was being widely propagated that a pro-China regime is going to come back into power in the island country. This opinion was strongly based on the experience of the Mahinda Rajapaksa era, particularly the Hambantota project, which has become the living example of the Chinese “debt-trap” diplomacy. 

Financed by the Chinese despite adverse feasibility reports and refusal by India for such a project, the port turned out to be a miserable failure. While tens of thousands of ships pass through the busiest shipping lanes in the world, the Hambantota port drew only 34 ships in 2012. The Rajapaksa regime was ousted in 2015, but the Hambantota project continued to haunt the succeeding regime.

What is important to mention here is the fact that China made inroads into Sri Lanka during Mahina Rajapaksa’s ten-year rule at a time when the island country was still trying to get rid of the LTTE issue. The US had withdrawn military aid to Sri Lanka in 2007.

The Sri Lankan government was then mired in controversy surrounding allegations of human rights violations, which reached its zenith after UNHRC adopted a US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka. UPA government which was in power at that time in India voted in favour of the resolution. Gotabaya Rajapaksa had also said in 2013 that India cannot absolve itself of having had ‘created’ Tamil terror in Sri Lanka in the 1980s.

With the entire world leading a charge against the island country on reports of gross human rights violations, and India too remained hesitant, China saw an opportunity and Rajapaksa a compulsion in China-Sri Lanka relations. It was in such circumstances that the Dragon became the biggest donor to the island country, and also pushed the Hambantota project after which Sri Lanka defaulted and leased the port to China, leading to bells ringing in New Delhi. 

India therefore, made it’s displeasure known, and what further soured the relationship between Sri Lanka (Rajapaksa) and India was Rajapaksa’s allegation that India’s external intelligence agency, the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) was behind his poll defeat. He had alleged that a RAW official was instrumental in uniting his rival political outfits- the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP). The deterioration in the relations between Rajapaksa and India was therefore based on a perceived pro-China stance of Sri Lanka under the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime and the insecurities harboured by Mahinda Rajapaksa against India. 

As stated earlier, the popular opinion both within and outside India was that the election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the younger brother of Mahinda Rajapaksa who is now all set to be sworn in as the next President, would pivot Sri Lanka towards Beijing once again, and prove antagonistic to India’s interests. However, both in the run-up to the elections and in the discourse after the election results, the perceived antagonism against India is not visible. In fact, if one gauges the conduct of the Rajapaksa brothers and the President-elect in the right context, it would become clear that there is at least a sense of ease in relations between the upcoming Rajapaksa regime and the Modi government.  

As per an Indian Express report, the President-elect, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been quick to reach out to India after his election as the next President of the island country. His camp has conveyed that while China will be a “trading partner”, India will remain Sri Lanka’s “relative”. This comes amidst reports of the President-elect choosing Anuradhapura, the World Heritage City known for its ancient links with India, for his swearing-in ceremony. This can be seen as a soft signal towards potentially closer relations between the two countries.  

What further makes it clear that there is a somewhat pro-India tilt when it comes to Gotabaya Rajapaksa is the fact that sources close to the Indian Express have said that he will be a “healthy partner” for India. The sources also said, “With the current (Wickremesinghe) government, India imagined that its interests will be protected. But it failed to protect Sri Lanka’s interests and did nothing for India. A strong president in Sri Lanka will make sure that India is the closest friend while protecting the independence and autonomy of his own country.” 

As far as Delhi is concerned, Rajapaksa no longer seems to be viewed with suspicion. After Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election, PM Modi is also said to have invited the President-elect, Rajapaksa to visit India at a time of his convenience. The invitation has also been by Gotabaya Rajapaksa. It must be noted that the Indian government has had its own apprehensions with respect to the Rajapaksa brothers, as Mahinda Rajapaksa had earlier driven Sri Lanka closer to China and eventually led to the lease of Hambantota port to China. However, in the recent past, New Delhi seems to have laid the ground for re-testing the strongman’s commitment to better relations with India.

Earlier this year, Mahinda Rajapaksa met PM Modi and the two discussed the need for close collaboration between India and Sri Lanka in the fields of security, economic development and counter-terrorism. It is therefore clear that the animosity between the Rajapaksa brothers and the Indian government has been gradually disappearing. What also makes a Rajapaksa regime amenable to India’s interests is the kind of authority that the Rajapaksa brothers enjoy within Sri Lanka. They are credited with having ended the three decades-long civil war within the island country. As opposed to the current government, which faced widespread criticism as it failed to tackle Islamic extremism and the Easter Sunday terror attacks despite intelligence inputs from India, the Rajapaksa regime is expected to be in complete control of Sri Lanka’s affairs. 

It is true that the outgoing President Sirisena and Wickremesinghe government were seen as tilted towards India. However, nothing substantial really happened in India’s favour. As Rajya Sabha Subramanian Swamy also expressed faith in Gotabaya’s leadership, tweeting, “Gotabhaya Rajapaksha has won the Presidential election in Sri Lanka. He is a decisive and clear-sighted person. Good for India,” it is imperative that the Modi government forges closer ties with the Rajapaksa regime in Sri Lanka. 

Gotabhaya Rajapaksha has won the Presidential election in Sri Lanka . He is a decisive and a clear sighted person . Good for India

— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) November 17, 2019

Had an extensive meeting with the Leader of Opposition, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa.

We discussed the need for close collaboration between India and Sri Lanka in the fields of counter terrorism, security and economic development. @PresRajapaksa pic.twitter.com/uOs7BSTBuH

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 9, 2019

What also makes the idea of Indo-Sri Lanka co-operation on security and counter-terrorism that much more probable is the meeting between Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Sri Lanka President and elder brother of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and PM Modi earlier this year. PM Modi had then tweeted, “We discussed the need for close collaboration between India and Sri Lanka in the fields of counter-terrorism, security and economic development.”

It is also clear that with Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the helm of affairs, Sri Lanka is going to combat Islamic extremism. India has already proven how it can be of immense help to Sri Lanka and had Sri Lanka not ignored India’s intelligence warnings, Easter terror attacks could have been prevented. Now, with a stronger nationalist regime at the helm of affairs, the two countries that share traditionally close relations have an opportunity to come together on the issues of security and counter-terrorism.

Share33TweetSend
Previous Post

Kejriwal promised free water to Delhi. He gave contaminated water to them

Next Post

No more anti-India propaganda in Kashmir: Govt blocks TV channels from Iran, Turkey and Malaysia

Akshay Narang

Akshay Narang

Patriot, Political Analyst, Amateur Historian

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms of use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

  • Most Read
  • Comments
  • Latest
Xi Jinping, coronavirus, Shinzo Abe, china, Japan, coornavirus, COVID-19, Wuhan Virus

‘Pack up and get out of there,’ Japan to spend $2.2 billion to get Japanese companies to exit China

9 April 2020
ajay devgn karan johar

The man who bullied the Bully – How Ajay Devgn made Karan Johar’s monopoly a joke and forced him to apologize

22 June 2020
Huawei, China, Trump, USA, Xi Jinping

‘Our survival is at stake now,’ Chinese Telecom giant Huawei crumbles after US ban on Semiconductor exports

19 May 2020
T-Series Sonu Nigam Divya Khosla Kumar Bhushan Kumar

T-Series forced to take down Atif Aslam’s video, Divya Khosla trolled. T-Series has a bad day in office

25 June 2020
Meat Ban

A Jain responds to Meat Ban in Mumbai

Public Sector Bank, Government, Bill

Dear bank employees, continue your stride but PSBs will be privatized

anti-Hindi

Anti-Hindi Forever?- In search of a National Language!

Dear Liberals – your Beef Parties are not protests, they just intend to displease the Majority

Dear Liberals – your Beef Parties are not protests, they just intend to displease the Majority

The strange tale of Rabinder Singh, the CIA mole who ended up as a nobody

The strange tale of Rabinder Singh, the CIA mole who ended up as a nobody

29 September 2023
Karnam Malleswari: The greatest woman sports icon ignored by Bharat

Karnam Malleswari: The greatest woman sports icon ignored by Bharat

29 September 2023
Alliance between Khalistanis and Manipur seperatists?

Alliance between Khalistanis and Manipur seperatists?

29 September 2023
We need to resuscitate abandoned temples, not beg for “World Heritage Site Status”!

We need to resuscitate abandoned temples, not beg for “World Heritage Site Status”!

29 September 2023

Popular This Week

Vijay Darda Coalgate
Opinions

The Vijay Darda Cover-Up: How media shielded a Coalgate scam mastermind

by Atul Kumar Mishra
25 September 2023
India Vs Canada+West: What happened, why it happened and what will happen?
Geopolitics

India Vs Canada+West: What happened, why it happened and what will happen?

by Atul Kumar Mishra
24 September 2023
“Why don’t ask Pakistan for Khalistan?” Canadian journalist drops a bombshell
Geopolitics

“Why don’t ask Pakistan for Khalistan?” Canadian journalist drops a bombshell

by Animesh Pandey
27 September 2023
No more Bollywood films for Nayanthara?
Cinema

No more Bollywood films for Nayanthara?

by Animesh Pandey
22 September 2023
Trudeau Loses America to Modi’s Magic
Geopolitics

Trudeau Loses America to Modi’s Magic

by Animesh Pandey
25 September 2023

©2023 TFI Media Private Limited

  • Terms of use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Politics
    • Analysis
    • Opinions
    • Trending
  • Economy
    • Business
    • Finance
  • Defense
    • Defence
    • Strategy
    • Weaponry
  • Geopolitics
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Europe
    • South Asia
    • West Asia
  • Knowledge
    • Culture
    • History
    • Indology
  • Law
  • Lounge
    • Books
    • Cinema
    • Food
    • Health
    • Sports
    • technology
    • Travel
    • Satire
TFI Official Merchandise
TFI हिन्दी
TFI Global
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Brand Partnerships

©2023 TFI Media Private Limited

Follow us on Twitter

and never miss an insightful take by the TFIPOST team

Follow @tfipost