The PHU’s General Secretary Udaya Gammanpila says the proposed bridge linking Tamil Nadu with the North-East of the island would make Sri Lanka another Indian state.
The MP, part of the SLFP group in favour of Mahinda Rajapaksa, said the move would work in favour of India and that New Delhi didn’t mention that Sri Lanka would also have to pay part of the $5.2bn loan from the Asian Development Bank.
“This is clear evidence that the project if monopolised by India to solve their issues, to send their people to Sri Lanka. Just like there is a Great Wall to protect China, the Indian Ocean protects our island. If the project went ahead, our sovereignty will be destroyed. President Maithripala Sirisena will end up being a Chief Minister of one of India’s States,” Mr Gammanpila told media on Monday morning.
He said that while it was not strange to build bridges or tunnels linking countries, the countries concerned should possess similar characteristics.
“The unemployed population in India is about 50 million while there are 400 million of poverty stricken people. India has a habit of sending their unemployed people overseas. If their people who are willing to work for less salary than ours arrive here, we will face grave repercussions. National security and economy will be threatened,” he said.
Mr Gammanpila, who won the third highest number of votes in Colombo, also said the PHU would not allow the establishment of hybrid court.
Talks on India-Sri Lanka bridge to commence in October (21 September 2015)
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