Indo - Sri Lankan Relations : Post Pokhran-II An Indian Perspective
06 Apr, 1999 · 182
Zarein Ahmed points out that "national interests and economic interests are the two main factors behind India's continuing and unchanged relations with Sri Lanka"
Twenty four hours after
India conducted a series of nuclear tests,
Sri Lanka expressed concern over missile and nuclear testing in the region. A Foreign Ministry release on May 14, stated that "
Sri Lanka notes with deep concern the missile and nuclear tests which have occurred recently in the South Asian region.
Sri Lanka continues to reiterate the position it has maintained on such testings.
Sri Lanka believes that the entire international community should continue its efforts to achieve global nuclear disarmament leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons without which peace and international security will continue to be in constant jeopardy." Later the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, and his Deputy, Lakshman Kriella, defended
India 's right to conduct the tests.
India has not violated any international law as it was not signatory to either the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. According to Kadirgamar,
Sri Lanka was not opposed to
India going nuclear, and the nuclear bloc need not be confined to the Big Five. And that economic sanctions need not be imposed on countries conducting tests. The Deputy Foreign Minister stressed that the tests would not affect Sri Lanka-India relations . This was despite growing critcism by the superpowers and sanctions issued by the
United States . He further stated :" As far as we are concerned, we have other priorities with
India . I concede that tensions in the region have increased because of
India 's actions but I still feel
India has a right to do what it wants with regards to its own security." Why did
Sri Lanka took such a position when all along it has been demanding a nuclear free
South Asia ? What were the motivations behind
Sri Lanka ’s open support?
Sri Lanka 's support to Indian Nuclear Tests: The Sri Lankan government adopted a nonchalant view due to the following reasons. First, it was apprehensive about the reactions of the Bharatiya Janata Party government in
India . Open critcism of the tests, it feared could drive the BJP to help the LTTE to intensify its movement. The present Foreign Minister Mr.George Fernandes' assocaiation with the LTTE and his support to them has been a cause of concern to
Colombo even before the BJP assumed office. However it was a little reassuring for
Sri Lanka when the the Information and Broadcasting Minister Ms. Sushma Swaraj stated that the ' BJP would not support the LTTE on any account. But some vestigial doubts remain in Sri Lankan minds because Mr. Fernandes is the Defence Minister of India The Sri Lankan Government therefore chose not to antagonise the BJP government.
India was backing
Sri Lanka in its bid to become a member of the G-15 at the
Cairo summit convened on May 10 last year. In fact, the members of the G-15 agreed to admit
Sri Lanka partly due to
India 's efforts, because
Columbia 's request for membership has been refered to the next summit.
Sri Lanka ’s economic interests in the South Asian region and the huge Indian market.
Sri Lanka has been arguing for the South Asian Preferential Trade Agreeement (SAPTA) and the South Asian Free Trade Area, as it would boost its exports to other South Asian Countries and increase foreign investment in
Sri Lanka . When the Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement was signed later on
South Asia .
Sri Lanka ’s continuing and unchanged relations with
India .
Sri Lanka is the first country which came out openly in favour of India. It maintains that
Reasons for
The second reason behind the Sri Lankan stand is based upon its economic and trade interests at global level.
Thirdly,
Thus national interests and economic interests are the two main factors behind
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