By Zain-ul-Abideen

India has received a hard punch from his neighbor Sri Lanka when it pushed India out of Colombo terminal project signed in May 2019 between Sri Lanka, India and Japan. As India started influencing the Sri Lankan port and wanted to play a role of crocodile on the Colombo Port which led Sri Lanka to take India out of port agreement. Sri Lanka’s Colombo port is one of the busiest ports in South Asia. Estimated 70% import and export cargo of India is trans-shipped through the Colombo port. Its four fully operational terminals – Jaya Container Terminal, Unity Container Terminal, South Asia Gateway Terminal and Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) are said to be operating at over 80% capacity. India and Sri Lanka had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for up-gradation of infrastructure in plantation of schools for estate workers of Indian origin. The MoU was signed by acting High Commissioner Mr. Vinod. K. Jacob and Secretary, Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka Mr. N.H.M. Chithrananda in Colombo port. The development and operation of the container terminal was one of the projects in the MoU. A Container Terminal in Colombo Port as a Joint Venture and India claim her investments considering that majority of transshipment in Colombo Port is related to India. India started interfering in domestic politics and economy of Sri Lanka that also affected the trade Unions of Sri Lanka which was unforgiveable for Sri Lanka.

In the reaction of Indian involvement in neighbor’s policies, also keeping the broader vision in the national interest of Sri Lanka for her future perspective, the Sri Lanka immediately reshaped her strategy regarding neighbor like a shark. Sri Lanka owned unilateral command on the port after experiencing India which was going to be an ostensible snake for her. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahindra Rajapaksa announced the decision on 01 February 2021, that the country will operate the East Container Terminal (ECT) in the Colombo port as a “wholly owned container terminal of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA)”. India is now forcing Sri Lankan government to handover the port Terminal to Adani Group. It is mandatory to mention that Adani Group is one of India’s largest integrated infrastructure conglomerates group with multiple interests which is operating from Ahmadabad, India. Sri Lanka has came to know about Indian intentions that India was going to influence Sri Lanka through his business plans and aimed to interfere in Sri Lanka like India is doing in her other neighbor countries. That is why India has thrown out of the port deal by Sri Lanka which is definitely affecting India’s reputation in the region and also will be affecting its policies regarding neighbor. India will not stay silent and also pressurizing Sri Lanka to rehabilitate the Colombo deal with India. This is all India is doing with the back of America, as America want to counter china.

The Colombo port is strategically very important that if Sri Lanka doesn’t reconsider the deal, India will start creating hurdles for Sri Lanka in the said port and Sri Lanka will also react and retaliate against India. These all means are used by India to create hurdles in the port. China is also observing the intentions of India which is the big ally of USA against China. So China will support Sri Lanka against India in the port. India wants to create conflict situations in the region to bring America in the port against China and Sri Lanka. USA’s only wants to come in the South Asian region to counter China and is using India as a tissue paper; India is playing in the hands of America like a puppet. This is the traditional strategy of India that India has done with Pakistan in Kashmir, Baluchistan, and has also produced ethnic and communal disputes in other areas of Pakistan.

Sri Lanka has done in her favor and expelled India from the Colombo port which is in very good interest of Sri Lanka. India has always played a negative role in her policies regarding neighbor. The unrest activities are always carried out by India in the region after every couple of months. This is the time for Sri Lanka to take wise decisions regarding her neighbor and recognize her rivals and friends. There is a peace loving country Pakistan also exists in the region which always prefers stronger political and economic ties with its neighbor countries. Prime Minister of Pakistan has met with Sri Lankan PM and both of them assured each other to strong there long distance friendships. Both will help each other in every up and down and will never break their mutual trusts.