Sri Lanka should not become Indianized: Government MP

21 February 2024 04:31 pm - 39 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

Parliament, Feb. 21 (Daily Mirror)- A government MP said today that Sri Lanka should not be subjected to Indianisation, claiming that he was against the Indian rupee being used in Sri Lanka and to provide Sri Lankan airports to Indian investors.

SLPP MP Sarath Weerasekara told Parliament that the President's efforts to rescue the country from economic shambles was praiseworthy and that he was against it if Sri Lanka was gradually subjected to indianisation.

"We are against if the Indian rupee is used in Sri Lanka or Sri Lanka becoming the 29th State of India. We highly appreciate the support extended to Sri Lanka by India. However, we are against providing the airports to Indian investors. The airport, the access point to the country is a sensitive place. It is a threat to the sovereignty of the country if a foreign company gets hold of the country's airport," he said.

The MP said Sri Lanka should not sign the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with India, adding that this would allow Indians to find employment opportunities in Sri Lanka.

"We are against if Sri Lanka is going to sign the ETCA agreement with India. This will allow Indians to enter the country for employment. There are 44 million people without jobs in India. Some 200,000 doctors are without jobs in India. Around 1.5 million engineers pass out anually from universities in India and 42 percent of the graduates below 25 years of age are unemployed. Allowing Indians to find employment in Sri Lanka will pose a threat to Sri Lankans," he said..

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 39

Danny Wednesday, 21 February 2024 04:43 PM

Can Sri Lanka be Chineseized, then in the way SLPP planned?

CITIZEN Wednesday, 21 February 2024 04:58 PM

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN CHINA BUILT COLOMBO PORT CITY WITHIN OUR SOVEREIGN TERRITORY?

Mathanamutha Wednesday, 21 February 2024 10:29 PM

He was dosing out when China dragon swallowed the South and crying foul when Indian Tiger taking off N and E. These guys are selling the country to foreigners and doing a lip services in public. Shameful!!

David Thursday, 22 February 2024 04:01 PM

Chinese paid him but Indian didn’t pay him yet!

Prince Wednesday, 21 February 2024 04:59 PM

At last talking some sense.

ajith Wednesday, 21 February 2024 05:00 PM

Do you want a free trip to Delhi

anil Wednesday, 21 February 2024 05:00 PM

Do you want it to be Chinesed

Dharmatileke Wednesday, 21 February 2024 05:02 PM

This Sarath is not my cup of tea other times yet in this issue I take him and points as a good cup of tea.

Ahmed Wednesday, 21 February 2024 05:07 PM

finally someone is voicing up for sri lanka. sri lankan politicians should learn to lead the nation without depending on one or 2 countries for everything. who is monopolizing petrol stations around the country ? whose vehicles are vehicles are used as tuk tuks and public transport ? what kind of imported teledramas are shown in sri lankan media ?who has cellular networks in lanka ? sri lankans used to have japanese bikes in the 80s and 90s. who controls the bike market now ? who get easy access to sri lanka with visa free access ? ( remember sri lankans dont get the same in their country ) look what sri lanka is planning ahead ? sri lanka wants to use their payment apps , sri lanka wants to build a bridge. sri lanka wants to get electricity from them. where will this end up ? please think twice. being based one country for everything is not a good diplomatic strategy

Jeya Wednesday, 21 February 2024 05:07 PM

No food to eat but this MP is talking as if we are first world country. Investment from any country (including india) should be welcomed and we should stop to see the world from our inward view. Take singapore as an Example. They also integrated with UPI and indian economy. India is the world's fastest-growing economy, we must take advantage of it. Ranil knows better.

Kabir Hashim Wednesday, 21 February 2024 05:08 PM

Over 100 million Indians don't have toilets, what if they come here to dump.

Citizen pissa Thursday, 22 February 2024 09:24 AM

Use ministers houses and gardens for dumping. 226 MPs can cater for the 100 million.

Sivalingam Wednesday, 21 February 2024 05:09 PM

Indian smugglers are not tourists. Pettah is full of smuggled items.

Disanayaka Wednesday, 21 February 2024 05:10 PM

Hey Sarath, let's accept the truth here. The Singalese brought the foreigners in. Portuguese by 3 princes fought their father. The British were brought into Kandy by whom we know. The Tamils on the other hand, fought the foreigners. The Jaffna King fought the Portuguese, The Kandy King as well as the Wanni King fought the British. All fought to the last. IPKF brought in by JRJ were fought and sent off by VP. Now who is bringing in the Chinese, Americans, and Indians?

Mohammad Zarook Wednesday, 21 February 2024 05:11 PM

Indian crooks are already doing big business, don't make things worse. Ranil and Sagala don't have a next generation to think about.

Onlooker Wednesday, 21 February 2024 05:20 PM

Yes once signed these agreements cannot be terminated easily. In an earlier agreement SL gave a large number of categories for export from us but they used very few and they gave their list which was small but we used most of them. So we have to be cautious as the Indian Think Tank is far ahead in these matters.

Liberal One Wednesday, 21 February 2024 05:22 PM

These fellas are obsessed with USD but are against indian rupees. Don't they understand that both are foreign currency and they do the same thing? These fellas are against privatisations of the airport but do they know that Katunayake airport is quickly running out of capacity? Does the government have 1 billion dollars to invest for a new terminal? These fellas are against free trade agreemnt with India. Do they realise that after 10 years India will be the 3rd biggest economy in the world?

Leo Wednesday, 21 February 2024 05:24 PM

ETCA is a must. A country cannot be developed without human capital. If Sri Lankans don't like to live but others do what is the big deal?

Citizen k Wednesday, 21 February 2024 05:26 PM

But we are very lazy to work unless there is some illegal income and the same people work extremely well when employed overseas.My point of the argument is here in Sri Lanka there should be no political patronage and that person should move up the career by only efficiency,then employing overseas worker question will not arise.

Hassanda Wednesday, 21 February 2024 05:28 PM

Ranil Wickremasinghe and Rajapaksas have sold our Beautiful Island Nation Just to revive our Economic situation What an idiot decision by these two Jokers

Jaffna Logic Wednesday, 21 February 2024 05:35 PM

Sinhalese politicians are not willing to solve the Tamil problem in the North for the last 70 years , but they are happy to handover the whole of Sri Lanka to the Indians. If a country’s Electric grid, Airports,and Seaports , which are all strategic asserts, goes into the control of a foreign country then that is the beginning of the irrevocable end for the country.

Sokrates Wednesday, 21 February 2024 05:40 PM

So far, all senior military officers in Sri Lanka who have turned to politics after retirement have proven to be a liability. Such people have no place in the diplomatic service, in the cabinet or in parliament. They have learned to kill and torture. They also carried out unlawful orders without question. They expect absolute obedience from others and consider their opinions to be supreme. Fanatical national pride but also racism was instilled in them. These people are unsuitable for a liberal democracy and are unable to compromise. What drives these people to go into politics after a military career instead of devoting themselves to a peaceful retirement? In any case, their agenda is rather questionable and negative for the people.

Telling the Truth Wednesday, 21 February 2024 06:06 PM

Hats off to Sarath being brave to tell the truth.So many MPs are hiding behind to save their posts rather than standing upright.

sss Wednesday, 21 February 2024 06:10 PM

This situation has arisen due to you and your party's mega corruption and mismanagement after poor rural youth gave their lives to end civil war

ROSH Wednesday, 21 February 2024 07:47 PM

This idiot needs stay at home. We need to eat. We need proper education. Getting rid of unelected master debating president. Leave my country to young educated generation

Mfb kandy Wednesday, 21 February 2024 07:58 PM

Since you guys are not capable enough to run the country. Let it run by Indians take the profit. At least people will good service. You guys are ALL FART NO SHIT.

Joshua Wednesday, 21 February 2024 08:07 PM

A racist statement as usual. So common sense in what he talks

KumaraT Wednesday, 21 February 2024 10:35 PM

This crook should have bleated this when India gave USD4 billion urgent economic aid when SL was about to drown.

Gon ranil Thursday, 22 February 2024 02:06 AM

Too late ranil already has plans to sell half the country to his family Indian masters. We will be the southern parades of India. Also known Sri Lanka hystorically.

Indian Lankan Thursday, 22 February 2024 02:15 AM

Our men and women are already indianised by watching Hindi films and dramas. They love to follow the Indian actors and actresses although they can never get anywhere close to those talented Indians. They know Hindi songs by heart though they don't understand a word!

Survival and Sensible Thursday, 22 February 2024 03:12 AM

Guys ....wake up and learn to move forward to get you economy building up. Look at European countries....they accept Euro and their own currency as well like the Greeks, Italians, and Turkey etc. SriLanka will accept US dollars....shame on some of them selling coffee and tea in local markets and in the airport with Dollar price tag when you should be putting SriLankan Rupees.

VJ Thursday, 22 February 2024 07:07 AM

Most of everything we have is Indian in some way. Starting from the religion we practice to the busses, trucks, three wheelers and two wheelers are Indian. How many Sri Lankans shuttle between India and SL on a daily basis to bring goods to market in SL. There are no less than 50 flights to India every week and it is full all the time. We are an island, access points are all around, not just the airports and sea ports. Can he deny his roots too are from India unless his is from Africa.

Simon maama Thursday, 22 February 2024 07:09 AM

Another bogus patriot has spoken. If you are truly against "INDIANIZATION" get out of this government and stop supporting irresponsible legislations and protecting an unelected president.

Tuan Thursday, 22 February 2024 07:33 AM

Why don't we get the Indians to manage our parliament, they will do better then our Crooked Sri lankans

Mynappuge Balusinha Thursday, 22 February 2024 08:20 AM

Pin Gon SLPP MP Sarath Weerasekara, tell your Hora Harin to RESIGN soon!!

Die-hard rebel Thursday, 22 February 2024 02:48 PM

If we allow them to come and work in our country, we'll soon end up becoming a shit hole like India. Is this what people want? Ever since gaining independence, this country has not made much progress. Maybe it would have been better off under British rule.

Jayt Thursday, 22 February 2024 09:21 PM

All of them brought to Sri lanka by Tamil and Indian. Your name is sinhalese but you are Tamil. First western countries hired Tamil against Sri lanka based on Tamil connections to 3 European colonies. Second, Tamil were hired to direct India against Sri kanka which prompted Srianka to invite Chinese and that also America to find a reason to get into Sri lanka Bottom line Tamil is agent reused by western countries to get into indian ocean with help of Indian. Tamil and have become agent western countries. Evidence, were there right there in 1980s when America tricked Sri lanka into a war by sending Israelis and by betraying lanka and doing favor to India to make it their ally and fight for Israel. You are one of thounds of local or foreign agents hiding in DM website

Mohan Renganathan Friday, 23 February 2024 08:40 AM

Sri Lanka need Indian food, Indian energy, Indian tourists, Indian oil, Indian medicines, Indian credit line, Indian soft loans with low interest and long repayment period, Indian scholarships, Indian cinemas, Indian hosing schemes, Indian war ships to chase pirates off our shores, Indian support at IMF, Indian temples to visit for blessings, Indian railways, Indian busses, iIndian investments etc etc but WE DON’T WANT INDIA; China ok with their land grabbing loans, commission based projects, loan for land schemes, their flocking community flouting all laws of the land, China towns springing up down south, China grabbing strategic projects, China owing parts of Sri Lanka so on and so forth! We Sri Lankans will do nothing of our own, complain for needs from to time, condemn Indian assistance under their neighborhood policy which saw immediate medical assistance free of charge during Covid, and generally use parliamentary privileges to engage in vituperative anti-india slogans! When we

Percy Wijenayake Friday, 23 February 2024 08:54 AM

The British handed over the Sri Lanka with a healthy bank balance and united country. But our politicians after SWRD mismanaged and made capital. India or China is the option but Singapore is ideal.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Sri Lanka should not become Indianized: Government MP

Comments - 39

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Racism, body-shaming fly high with Air Belgium crew against SriLankan staff

“Ranil Ralla” : Will Wickremesinghe ride on a winning wave?

AstraZeneca admits for first time its COVID vaccine can cause rare side effect

Sri Lanka face unusual dilemma

On-arrival visa fiasco drains VFS Global’s confidence in Sri Lanka

Controversy over foreigners issuing on-arrival visas at BIA

MIRROR CRICKET

India’s Amul to sponsor Sri Lanka team for T20 World Cup

Shakib threatens to beat up fan over clicking selfie

BCCI breaks silence after Trinidad PM reveals terror threat to T20 World Cup, report says it’s from ISIS

Sri Lanka, Scotland gear up for big final that decides Women’s T20 World Cup groups

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Body of youth who went missing while visiting girlfriend found

Exclude Health Ministry from drug procurement to curb corruption: GMOF urges Govt.

Woman arrested with heroin valued at more than Rs.10 million

Shavendra advises Sri Lankan veterans to avoid mercenary service abroad

India’s Amul to sponsor Sri Lanka team for T20 World Cup

Shakib threatens to beat up fan over clicking selfie

BCCI breaks silence after Trinidad PM reveals terror threat to T20 World Cup, report says it’s from ISIS

Sri Lanka, Scotland gear up for big final that decides Women’s T20 World Cup groups