Don't give into Tamil Nadu pressure - Bogollagama

by Manjula FERNANDO

Former Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama commenting on a protest made by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha against training Sri Lankan Airmen on their soil, reportedly as part of a Commonwealth deal, said that bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka are far more important than to yield to politically biased sentiments of regional powers,

The comments came following a visit the former minister made to Delhi amidst heavy reporting by Indian media on the pressure by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on the Centre to get training of Sri Lankan military personnel discontinued.

India reportedly provides training to over a thousand military personnel from several countries in Asia and other regions annually, including hundreds from Sri Lanka, a practice that had continued for decades. The team of Lankan airmen had their training at the Thambaram Airbase in Tamil Nadu State and then were shifted to a camp in Bangalore.

Former Minister Bogollagama told the Sunday Observer, "That is a serious statement coming from a regional leader. People can have their own opinions and they may be entitled to their own statements, but when it comes to bilateral relations, the Centre will always look at both sides," adding that how relations have to be continued, sustained and developed between two close neighbouring States is at the discretion of the central Government and not the regional powers.

He said Sri Lanka's regional presence is of paramount importance for India while stressing that Sri Lanka could be part of India's progress and sustained development as a regional power.

"Similarly if our regions too react, for instance, the southern region of Sri Lanka, that we must not have any produce being imported from India or Tamil Nadu, that will create unnecessary rifts and hurt the prevailing close relations between our two nations."

He said every attempt must be made to denounce these statements since they are specifically meant for domestic political survival. "Sustain ability of bi-lateral relations can get affected by such pressures being accommodated."

"It is important that both countries look at the broader aspect and embrace the strengths of each other and enhance close understanding and cooperation."

"With the maturity and respect they command, I think India will realise the need to look beyond the sentiments of the Chief Minister Jayalalitha."

He said that this was the first time such a serious stand was taken and the Centre yielded by shifting the training location. "The Indian Ministry of Defence is entitled to do that. But if the Centre gives into this type regional pressure, it shows little concern for our own sentiments. That will be disturbing."

India remains the most important, closest and one who would be Sri Lanka's friend all times. There is a unique relationship because we all are part and parcel of the same civilization, same culture, same traditions, etc. India should be part of Sri Lanka's partnership for development.

We can enhance the role played by India in this quarter.

Commenting on Sri Lanka's economic performance and the Opposition's vehement attacks on Government's handling of the economy, he said, all of them forget the fact that there has been an economic meltdown in the global scene - with US and the Europe in particular getting affected badly." The economies of world giants are virtually in a state of bankruptcy. For example Spain and Ireland are struggling as a result of this global meltdown. Even the US banks and financial institutions such as Lehman Brothers have completely collapsed." "In the UK while scandals at the level of Barclays are taking place, Sri Lanka have been able to maintain and preserve all the fundamentals associated with our financial strengths. Some of the banks that collapsed have been rescued like that of the Seylan and Pramuka Bank."

"We have brought out a level of stability whilst there was an upswing in the economic drive in the country. This is where when people say the stock market is slow, why the stock market is slow is because there are other areas that the economy is being driven, people try to make opportunities outside the traditional areas, in the pursuit of their financial interests." Bogollagama who held the Cabinet portfolio of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion from 2005 to 2007, said to activate wider development in the micro and SMEs sector of our economy, the decline in exports can be arrested by enhancing the market for exports and looking at new destinations and value addition for some of our exports.

The revenue per unit of export will be increased, through this value addition process. Thereby, we can bring more foreign exchange to the country and allow traditional exports to remain stable. He said there were new products in the local sector and these rural products must find their way to the export market. Sectors such as cloves, grains and cashew nuts and seasonal fruits can be encouraged to move into the export market.

When more foreign reserves build up in the country the rupee too gets stabilised, not just manpower exports, we must have material exports of Sri Lanka produce, he concluded.