By
Upul Joseph Fernando
When the then Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe lost the Local Government elections in 2014, he proceeded to America to study at a university and also to deliver lectures. Before he left to United States Ranil told a media conference in Colombo that he was going over there to learn tactics to topple governments. He studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for one month and returned. Without wasting time, he started a dialogue to unite with Sajith Premadasa. At the Uva Provincial Council elections the duo came on stage. The UNP lost the election by a slender margin. When Mahinda called an early presidential election, Maithri emerged to contest Mahinda.
Now Mahinda is getting ready to fly to China for two weeks. Earlier he said the trip would last one month. The reason behind his tour is yet to be disclosed or revealed. Some say he is embarking upon a holiday to China. It is not clear whether Mahinda is heading to China to seek assistance to topple the Maithri-Ranil Government.
Recently, former Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris met the Russian envoy in Colombo with the Joint Opposition colleagues to brief the Russian Ambassador about the unjust treatment executed on him by the sleuths at the FCID. None knows whether the learned Professor also sought Russian assistance to topple the incumbent government.
However, there’s a fact that both Mahinda and GL are unaware of. That is that China and Russia are two countries that will never throw money to topple governments in their region. They always back governments in office. They make hay while the sun shines and are not ready to lick their fingers. What they do is to befriend dictator type leaders of countries where America and Europe try to stabilize democracy to put them against America and Europe. Russia sells arms whilst helping such nations. China extends loans through the Exim Bank at exorbitant interest rates. Therefore, Mahinda and his group can never topple this government by making pilgrimages to China and Russia. On the other hand, Russia would never interfere in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs without consulting India. Russia and India have historic relations for decades. As much as India hates the Rajapaksas’, India too hates them. That is the bare truth.
Colombo Port City project
China has issues with the Maithri-Ranil Government. The key issue is that the present government suspended the Colombo Port City Project for which the foundation stone was laid by the Chinese President. However, the Maithri-Ranil Government has now agreed to resume the project. China invited Mahinda to visit China during the period the project was put on hold. Now the green light is issued to re-start the project. Therefore, the value and importance of Mahinda is less to China. Considering these developments, the proposed visit of Mahinda to China is not unique. During Mahinda’s administration, China invited Ranil to visit Beijing. Accepting the invitation Ranil went on a long visit to Beijing. Ranil did not present problems of the Mahinda’s Government before the Chinese as it was irrelevant to Chinese interests.
Come what may China will not easily lose the grip on Mahinda. There are many Chinese projects operating in Sri Lanka. If Maithri and Ranil attempt to fiddle with those projects, China may start to play the Mahinda Card. Unlike India, United States and Britain, China is not close to Sri Lankan politicians, State Officials, Armed Forces and the Police. What China does is only to offer scholarships to study in China. China thinks that when China is shown to such scholarships holders that the latter would turn Chinese supporters. However, China was a country that earlier helped to topple Sri Lankan Governments.
China helped to protect the Government of Sirima Bandaranaike from 1960 to ’65. The UNP at that time charged that China was fiddling with internal political affairs of Sri Lanka. In 1965, the UNP toppled Sirima’s Government. The Dudley Senanayake Government which assumed office in 1965 accused China of having connived with SLFP supporter monk Ven. Henpitagedara Gnanaseeha Thera to topple the government. It was alleged that handbills against Dudley’s Government was printed in China. In 1970 the Government of Sirima Bandaranaike worked closely with China, but China was suspected of having backed the 1971 JVP revolt against her government. Ms. Bandaranaike lodged her strong protest over the information that China was sending an arms shipment to Colombo in support of the JVP insurrection.
China planned her foreign policy at that time based on her political ideologies. Later, it was designed to suit economic interests. Hence China’s ambition is to get close to governments to fulfil her economic targets and not to topple governments. Mahinda appears to be ignorant to this factual interest of the Chinese.
Courtesy:Ceylon Today