China’s dominance continues to grow in favour

Chinese Defense Minister Wei Funghi visited Sri Lanka in late April. He met then Sri Lankan President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and his brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. At the time, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said that China would always side with Sri Lanka in protecting its interests. He also thanked China for standing by Sri Lanka in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The UNHRC’s plan was the human rights situation in Sri Lanka under the Rajapaksa brothers. The Rajapaksa brothers have always sided with China on this issue. They have also given China a chance to dominate Sri Lanka’s investment and infrastructure sector through one mega-project after another. China has plans to build a maritime Silk Road in the Indian Ocean as part of the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), international observers say. The Rajapaksa brothers have come forward as the most significant ally in implementing this plan of Beijing. In their favour, Beijing has steadily strengthened its position on the South Asian island. China has already taken control of the Sri Lankan port of Hambantota. It has also had the opportunity to develop significant investments in several infrastructure projects, including Port City Colombo.
In Colombo, China now sees the Rajapaksa brothers as its biggest ally. For this reason, Beijing is also providing necessary support and assistance to Colombo in the international arena, including the United Nations. On the other hand, the Rajapaksa brothers are also moving ahead with Chinese projects in their
home country, ignoring various discussions and criticisms, including Port City Colombo.

The Sri Lankan government claims that the ১৪ 1.40 billion port city of Colombo is the largest private sector development project on the island. The country’s parliament recently approved the project. Except for the ruling Padujana Peramunna, almost everyone in the country’s political circles is opposed to the project. Even the country’s influential Buddhist monks have taken a strong stand against it. They say the project, if implemented, would undermine Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.
According to them, if this project is implemented, China’s free control over a part of Sri Lankan land will be established. At the same time, control of the Colombo government will be limited in some areas. In particular, rumors of regulated circulation and the use of the yuan as a currency in the project area have caused great concern in the country. However, ignoring these rumors, allegations, and opposition, the project was approved by the Sri Lankan Parliament controlled by Padujana Peramunna.
International observers say China’s total investment in various infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka has exceeded 600 million. This investment has made the burden of debt heavier, as well as much more uncomfortable for Colombo. In 2016, the then Colombo government was forced to hand over the port of Hambantota to China on a 99-year lease, despite reluctance. In 2005, Beijing signed an agreement with Colombo to build the port of Hambantota on the initiative of the then President of Sri Lanka and current Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Critics have called for the Port City Colombo project to be abandoned, given Hambantota’s experience. However, the Rajapaksa brothers are determined to take the project forward without heeding this demand.

Observers say China’s growing influence in Sri Lanka can be seen in the signboards of various government projects in the country. According to the country’s language policy, government signboards have rules for using three languages ​​simultaneously — Sinhala, Tamil, and English. Sinhala and English are used on official signboards in many projects in the country, but Mandarin has replaced Tamil.

Observers say Beijing had benefited from Sri Lanka in the past when Mahinda Rajapaksa was in power. It is still being repeated. Under the present regime, the Rajapaksa brothers initially showed some diplomatic favour to India, but in the end, they have entirely leaned towards China. Even in terms of diplomatic positions, they lack the idea of ​​maintaining a balanced relationship with Beijing and New Delhi. The issue is worrying India, China’s enemy in regional geopolitics.
This year, Sri Lanka announced the cancellation of agreements on the East Container Terminal (ECT) project with India and Japan. At the time, it was argued in favour of the initiative, saying the Sri Lankan government was being forced to cancel the project in opposition to locals. New Delhi’s diplomatic community is also a great inconvenience to lag behind China in the race for supremacy on the island near its coast.

On the other hand, critics of the Rajapaksa brothers allege that Colombo is undertaking one big project after another in favour of China. These projects are ultimately becoming a white elephant pet for Sri Lanka. The projects have loaned Colombo but benefited the Rajapaksa brothers.