12 Sri Lankan political parties joined a virtual conference hosted by China’s embassy to celebrate diplomatic ties with China on the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party.
The Tamil National Alliance and the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) did not attend the virtual conference.
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister, and accused war criminal, Mahinda Rajapaksa thanked China for its contribution's during the war.
“The friend will be always there, both in sorrow and pleasure. Like the murals on a wall, they never look away.” "We appreciate the commitments made by the Chinese Government for our independence during and after the war, forever."@PresRajapaksa @PodujanaParty pic.twitter.com/OUOjt6SLxI
— Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka (@ChinaEmbSL) June 17, 2021
Sri Lanka's former Prime Minister further thanked the Chinese leadership for its opposition to the UN Human Rights Council resolution and 'anti-terrorism' support.
.@MaithripalaS SLFP:
— Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka (@ChinaEmbSL) June 17, 2021
We reminisce with satisfaction the past between our countries: the Non-Align Movement, Mme. SB & Premier Zhou Enlai's friendship, development, anti-terrorism and UNHRC support etc.
Heartening to learn w/ CPC leadership China has eradicated extreme poverty, pic.twitter.com/j5JRKVjoUG
Former Prime Minister and Leader of the United National Party, Ranil Wickremesinghe, also expressed his gratitude claiming, China would have "a greater role in preserving peace in the world".
.@RW_UNP @officialunp :
— Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka (@ChinaEmbSL) June 17, 2021
With the development of China and in the context of its growing influence in the world, it will have a greater role in preserving peace in the world. Sri Lanka has also benefitted in a very big way from the corporation. pic.twitter.com/PJSwoJ3Bdi
Sri Lanka's Foreign Secretary, Dinesh Gunawardena, also applauded China's Belt and Road Initiative.
.@DCRGunawardena MEP:
— Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka (@ChinaEmbSL) June 17, 2021
Friendship between Sri Lanka and China has blossomed for over 70 years. "China is contributing to the development of Asia, Africa, and Latin America through the Belt and Road Initiative." pic.twitter.com/xYUPHyXj8F
Sri Lanka's Minister for Energy, Udaya Gammanpila, called for Sri Lanka to learn from China stating:
.@UPGammanpila PHU:
— Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka (@ChinaEmbSL) June 17, 2021
China and the CPC have been a true and noble friend of Sri Lanka and our people for many years, helping hand in hand and standing shoulder to shoulder when needed.
I strongly believe that we should achieve our ambitious social & economic goals like China. pic.twitter.com/vjZW9LANhy
Sri Lanka's Fisheries Minister, and accused human rights abuser, Douglas Devananda claimed that China was bettering humanity in changing the world order.
.@DouglasDevanan1 Leader of the EPDP:
— Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka (@ChinaEmbSL) June 17, 2021
There is nothing in this world that is not changing except the change itself. I am hopeful that the Communist Party of China would continue to play its role for the betterment of the humanity in the context of the changing World order. pic.twitter.com/LnDDcTlMxk
Colombo Port City Project
The conference follows the passage of the widely criticised Chinese-led Colombo Port City Bill which declares 269 hectares of reclaimed land as the country’s first special economic zone (SEZ) for services-oriented industries. Under the legislation, a commission appointed and accountable to the Prime Minister would oversee the SEZ.
Ceylon Federation of Labour has also raised concerns over provisions that would exempt employers operating within the Port City from compliance with Sri Lanka’s labour laws. The Hindu notes that the Union had fought and won a case in the late 1970s when the J.R. Jayawardene government tried to deny labour law protection to workers at the newly established Free Trade Zone.
The Port City bill was passed with 149 MPs voting for and 58 against the Bill. There has been widespread opposition to the bill with MPs from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the JVP-led National People’s Power (NPP), and TNPF voting against it.
Read more here: 'You chose to destroy, you chose to commit genocide' - TNPF leader slams Colombo Port City project
The Chinese threat
The conference also follows the nomination of Julie Chung as Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives. Chung has warned against the role China has played in the Indo-Pacific region and Chinese “debt diplomacy”. Last September, during a hearing in Congress she noted:
“We see their investment hurting the environment, violating local labour laws. We’ve brought these issues to light with the region and raised it with our government counterparts”.
During this week, NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, warned against the security challenges posed by China for the first time, stating:
“We are concerned by China’s coercive policies which stand in contrast to the fundamental values enshrined in the Washington Treaty. China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal with more warheads and a larger number of sophisticated delivery systems”.
US President, Joe Biden also warned that:
“The democratic values that undergird our alliance are under increasing pressure, both internally and externally […] Russia and China are both seeking to drive a wedge in our trans-Atlantic solidarity.”
Indophobia
Sri Lanka’s growing ties with China come as its relationship with India wears thin. Following Sri Lanka’s unilateral withdrawal from the East Colombo Terminal agreement, India chose to abstain from voting on the UN Human Rights Council Resolution which passed.
Relationships further worsened with Sri Lanka grant of approval for China to establish three renewable energy projects in outlying islands off the Jaffna peninsula. India had warned that this was a security threat. Sri Lanka has further expressed scepticism over the US-backed Quadrilateral Security Dialogue Alliance (QUAD) an informal forum between the US, Japan, Australia, and India which conducts semi-regular summits, information exchanges and conducts military drills with member countries.
In May, Sri Lanka sought a $200-million currency swap from Bangladesh after being denied a $1 billion credit swap from India. This was the first time that Sri Lanka is borrowing from a SAARC country other than India.