Allocate oil exploration blocks - India to SL

6 March 2012 01:59 am - 30 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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India is persuading Sri Lanka to allocate oil exploration blocks in the waters that separate them as it considers the location too strategically important to allow companies from other nations to base themselves in this area.

Diplomatic sources said the two countries were trying to set up a meeting between the Petroleum Ministers this month to discuss the issue afresh, now that Cairns India has struck oil in one of the blocks. If the talks make progress, the two Ministers could meet again in October, the sources said.

After the war with the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) ended in 2009, Cairns, which was allocated a block two years earlier, was encouraged by New Delhi to take up exploitation in earnest. This was the first time in 25 years that a company had prospected for oil in an area whose seas were considered no-go areas during the heyday of the LTTE.

India plans to step up its efforts in view of the international interest in the area after the war ended. Russian, Vietnamese and Malaysian companies have held meetings on the subject with senior Sri Lankan officials while China has also expressed its desire to get involved.

While Russia, Vietnam and Malaysia are considered friendly countries, New Delhi would not like to court adverse publicity at home if Chinese companies are successful. It has faced flak after the Chinese took up the expansion of Hambantota port in southern Sri Lanka because India had passed up the opportunity.

But officials feel Sri Lanka could be playing for time after it informed the Indians about plans to carve out more blocks from the existing ones — Colombo might be sizing up the potential to strike a favourable revenue-sharing arrangement, they said.

New Delhi expects a favourable response after having stood by Sri Lanka during its annihilation of the LTTE's military structure even though sections of the world community and Indian domestic public opinion assailed the security forces for human rights abuses. (Source: The Hindu)

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Comments - 30

Fayad Tuesday, 06 March 2012 05:55 AM

very true,they never wanted peace in SL
They never wanted SL become another Singapore.

Kalum Wednesday, 07 March 2012 09:04 AM

India stood by Sri Lanka???? Does India think that we've forgotten how it refused to sell Sri lanka offensive weapons? If not for India the war would never have started in the first place. Give the blocks to any country BUT India.

Nodrog Wednesday, 07 March 2012 07:35 AM

Yes. Tamil Nadu was strategically important to us during the was as it was used as base by the terrorists but India still allowed them to operate from there.

Concerned Tuesday, 06 March 2012 11:21 AM

Is this how big aiya is asking chuti nangi?

jack Tuesday, 06 March 2012 09:14 AM

do u know. India have another name for business?. That is oondial (underground money)

buffaloa citizen Tuesday, 06 March 2012 09:12 AM

Now you tell me who is the true freind of SL? Pakistan and China (they are freinds with anyone who has a problem with India and has violated human rights), Russia (they are freinds because they are equivalent opposite to the west and USA and again human rights violators), Burma (birds of a feather flock together), Iran (same frogs in the same well with SL), Libya (no we do not wisper any thing about them now).

Gamunu Tuesday, 06 March 2012 08:33 AM

I agree fully with comments made by concerned citizens & non citizens alike. WE should never allow any more concessions, friendly gestures to India. Time & again they failed us.

It is much better to have Singapore or Mid East country & explore all other blocks. Even the so called sensitive areas. It may sensitive to India, BUT we are happy to enetertain other energy exploring countries ( EXCEPT INDIA). for sure.

Our President should never give in, Russia or any other country except any western countries. This part of the world belongs to East.
Thank you for allowing me to express my views as a Petroleum Engineer~ retd engineer from Canada.

sajitha Tuesday, 06 March 2012 08:33 AM

Lets see how India behave in geneva...

Sanath R Tuesday, 06 March 2012 08:25 AM

What is WW and JHU and the clan going to say on India's dictating terms? Are they against only towards the west?

chatura wscg Tuesday, 06 March 2012 08:03 AM

goverments of sri lanka should not be bothered to india always

troy Tuesday, 06 March 2012 07:34 AM

Finally the cat has come out of the bag!

Thaha Muzammil Tuesday, 06 March 2012 07:20 AM

Waiting to ooze at next pres election

Ragu Tuesday, 06 March 2012 06:40 AM

Or we will vote aginst you in Geneva!, always get what they want when Sri Lanka int rouble.

Eddy Tuesday, 06 March 2012 06:26 AM

If you give a foot hold to these Indians, they will take a mile!! Their intentions on SL was never friendly and never would be, more of a exploitation of a smaller nation, history speaks for itself!!

Imran Hussein Tuesday, 06 March 2012 06:18 AM

Why should we choose one extreme? Lets select the middle path and be cool with all for instant - Switzerland, UAE, S'pore & Japan.

jayasiri Tuesday, 06 March 2012 02:24 AM

It would the biggest mistake if India is given to control area becuase India is not really a true friend of Sri Lanka.

ind Tuesday, 06 March 2012 05:30 AM

But, both are better than US and UK !!

Imran Hussein Tuesday, 06 March 2012 04:38 AM

Dont ever trust India & China. They arnt friends.They have thier own intersts but nothing else. Srilanka is not belongs to one elected government. India like to see its neighbours in mess. But with a (present) govt like this the future of the country if gloomy.

sena Tuesday, 06 March 2012 04:25 AM

where is our eighty year old investment in higher education - no capabilities in any technology area.

ind Tuesday, 06 March 2012 04:06 AM

Why Russia too is interested. It's a better option than India

Sampath Tuesday, 06 March 2012 04:05 AM

Always remember that India is the local agent (sub-continent) for western nations...

SL Citizen Tuesday, 06 March 2012 03:34 AM

Most of the people never trust India because its past arrogant activities against SL. People can well remember what India has done and well aware of what India is going to do.

ind Tuesday, 06 March 2012 03:29 AM

Fishing in troubled water.

Dharitha Tuesday, 06 March 2012 03:15 AM

If we think on World Oil Production and Consume in a broader way, its better to wait for some more time to dug Islands' resources.

Dharitha Tuesday, 06 March 2012 03:02 AM

If we think on World Oil Production and Consume in a broader way, its better to wait for some more time to dug Islands' resources.

Nuzrath Anver Tuesday, 06 March 2012 02:51 AM

Do not play into India's hand. Politics should not come into business. Business is Business. Allocate blocks to all countries to explore. India should not be our first priority. Business should be our first priority. Those who want to explore should be allowed to explore.

Tonto Tuesday, 06 March 2012 02:59 AM

What about the well that have already been dug. What are the results?

buffaloa citizen Tuesday, 06 March 2012 02:56 AM

If not to India, whom do we have? China? Correct. That it self speaks volumes on the character of our system of governance and leaders.

freelanced Tuesday, 06 March 2012 02:43 AM

Remember, its India who trained LTTE and other terrorist groups in late '70s early '80s, in their long term strategy against SL. Be careful not to put all eggs in one basket.

Calistus Jayatilleke Tuesday, 06 March 2012 02:37 AM

One should also understand that in politics and international relations, there are no permanent friends or enemies, but only permanent interests.

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Allocate oil exploration blocks - India to SL

Comments - 30

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