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29 September 2023 06:58 am - 32 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
China, more than any other country in the region or elsewhere, offers exchange programmes to the parliamentarians from Sri Lanka.
In the previous Parliament, all 225 members were offered chances to undertake familiarisation tours to China and to engage with the Communist Party of China (CPC) as part of its international engagement. A fair number of MPs from the current Parliament has also travelled to China currently, and more programmes are likely to take place accommodating the rest in the near future. These programmes also include politicians who are not MPs. If not for the Covid-19 pandemic, most would have already visited China. A group of MPs are also in China at the moment.
China, as a rising power with its economic, technological and scientific marvels, has accelerated its international engagements. Sri Lanka, given its strategic pivot in the Indian Ocean, remains key to China’s interests. In one aspect, China wants to showcase its potential to the world and goes by its proverb ‘seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times’. It is a country naturally inclined to present its case to the world in such a manner. The MPs are the ones who matter most in policy formulation and implementation and decision making. Engagement with them is fundamental as a result.
In recent years, particularly after 2015, the CPC has widened its reach across the political spectrum of Sri Lanka. Instead of dealing with the party in power only, it has now begun to promote party to party ties with all. The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is used to have ties with the CPC in a major way. In fact, MP Namal Rajapaksa, the son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, heads Sri Lanka - China Parliamentary Friendship Association. He also led parliamentary delegations to China in recent times.
Before 2015, the Mahinda Rajapaksa government fostered ties with China which financed main infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka signed up for China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project doing his time only. Chinese President Xi Jin ping visited Sri Lanka in 2014 and laid the foundation stone for the Colombo Port City. Given such enhanced connectivity, the political opposition even criticized China for what they called ‘a patron of the Rajapaksas’.
Now, China has developed connections with all the mainstream parties. In fact, the Chinese embassy made a cash donation to the charity project being carried out by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.
Such an approach is conceivable from the CPC point of view. In a multi-party democracy like Sri Lanka, it is conceivable that the opposition will get back to power at one point. Even-handed approach with all across the political divide matters in that context. Therefore, China is reaching out to all in Parliament without confining its relationship to the party in power only. (Kelum Bandara)
Shame Friday, 29 September 2023 07:23 AM
Considerable per cent of MONEY provided to "financed main infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka" was picked by eM aR
Save the country from politicians Friday, 29 September 2023 07:26 AM
Simple, they bend over more easily than politicians from other countries.
DOT Friday, 29 September 2023 07:30 AM
Simple! They know how to buy their rights! So, they invest on them.
ravin Friday, 29 September 2023 08:07 AM
Whole world knows about our set of politicos well and truly as greedy foxes.. They never ever think about outside world other than their own wallets. In other words they know art of fooling masses.
Corrupt Friday, 29 September 2023 12:03 PM
No wonder they sent a ship load of sewage and called it organic fertilizer. They know our corrupt politicians have a world wide reputation .
Buddhi Samaranayake Friday, 29 September 2023 08:27 AM
China behind the scenes have funded many Sri Lankan Political campaigns during past elections Most interesting part is in 2019 Presidential Election alone it funded of Rs. 1.5 billion to Rajapaksas but Gotabaya fixed Sri Lanka to India refusing Xi Jinping's invitation to visit China. Most Gota key Pathfinder figures relatives were employed at Chinese companies operating in Sri Lanka. China halls deployed more Spies from communist army than any other South Asian nation inside Sri Lanka as corporate mercenaries covering under Chinese companies. In 2020 General Election Chinese companies donated over Rs. 3 billion to all Key MPs amd Rs. 1 billion of it went to key Members of Rajapaksas family who represented Electoral Seats and miney went to their foundations. Most of these foundations are taglined with International Buddhists Socienty, Universal Buddhist Society etc amd some Buddhist Monks appear as cashiers to Many MPS in Parliament. Buddhism is the greatest sale during Elections.
A Cheap Sri Lankan Friday, 29 September 2023 09:32 AM
Because it is cheaper to buy Sri Lankan MPs.
Currying Favours Friday, 29 September 2023 09:33 AM
China is indirectly bribing MPs from all Parties with ulterior motives. The same thing must be happening with all influential Officials.
Poochie Baba Friday, 29 September 2023 09:44 AM
Because China knows all are MP's are corrupt and will do anything for money!
Punchi Friday, 29 September 2023 09:46 AM
Palitha Kohona keeps saying that China will do this and that in relation to our debts but nothing happening. All talk and no substance
Jude Friday, 29 September 2023 10:01 AM
SL politicians very Bribebable!! Most SL MP's will stoop to any level or do anything for money, yeah.
Premalal Perera Friday, 29 September 2023 10:09 AM
They must be the most corrupt. Otherwise how can the Chinese sell their clapped out coal power plant at double the price of a new one? How can they sell useless airports, ports, stadiums, conference halls, telecom towers, highways, and what have you at bloated prices?
Gamini Friday, 29 September 2023 10:11 AM
Let them try this with Singaporean parliamentarians and see what happens
Spartacus Friday, 29 September 2023 10:12 AM
China courts Sri Lankan MP's specially those Sinhalese because they are punks and takers. The Chinese know the Sinhalese will praise their mother publicly but sell her in secret if the price is right. This is a fact and the road to bankruptcy of this country is proof of this.
Sentiments published about One and half centuries ago Friday, 29 September 2023 05:23 PM
Very strange that you echo the sentiments published in one of the Lake House news papers about one and half centuries ago, when Ceylon was under the rule of British colonialists. I am ashamed to repeat what was mentioned about the fate of fathers.
Ram Friday, 29 September 2023 10:38 AM
Why does China court Sri Lankan MPs more than others? It is because the SL MPs are so dishonest and can be got round for a penny to get Chinese voted for any or all business activities
European Friday, 29 September 2023 10:42 AM
The China Parliamentary Friendship Association?? Hahaha:-)
Trehan Munasinghe Friday, 29 September 2023 11:04 AM
Because they love money and are easy to convince for Chinese agenda. Nothing wrong with the Chinese approach, unfortunately we don't have quality Parliamentarians, and our society is a direct reflection of our elected Parliament. So this shouldn't surprise us, from another point of view, the Chinese might be encouraging a multi party democratic system here (National Government) which would eventually lead to a Communist Party style rule in SL... where there are no political parties but only one.
gullible politicians Friday, 29 September 2023 11:50 AM
Sri Lanka politicians are not very intelligent and are very gulible. If you show them the money they will even sell the country. Anyway did you realise that part of the country next to the Port city now belongs to China?
Aquarius Friday, 29 September 2023 11:53 AM
This is not a mystery - the world knows our politicians are on the take. When they cannot get foreign loot, they suck the life out of the population by manipulating commodity prices and that's where we are now. It is not a secret who lives in mansions now, compared to their small beginnings and they did not make that money on a MPs salary. The people are asked to pay for these crimes today with the inflated cost of living. They have already sold our beloved country and sitting in parliament to decide our future.
Abeygunaratna Friday, 29 September 2023 12:03 PM
China will spend lavishly on all MPs and even political parties. But will never release us from the debt-trap they have carefully and cunningly laid.
Terrence K Friday, 29 September 2023 12:51 PM
Ruling Politicians have created records for demanding SANTHOSAM for any contracts which the Chinese know very well and thats why they court MP's of Sri Lanka to receive chances of Bribes in kind than MP's of other countries as the law is deaf, dumb and blind to this happening whereas other countries the law enforcers ensures deterrent punishment. Also it is easier to do many things in Sri Lanka eg. procuring fertilizer which resulted in a disaster to the livelihoods of many as our Sri Lankan politicians will sell their souls for any type of shit and go scot free.
Mattayas in Parliament Friday, 29 September 2023 02:07 PM
Until we saw this DM Report we Sri Lankans didn't know that most of the Parliamentarians of the present Parliament have visited China. Mahinda when he was President went a couple of times taking plane loads as if going on a convoy of buses to Hambantota. China must have won the hearts of the MPs by hosting them generously and in return would expect the MPs support on any issue. This is an investment China is making with ulterior motives.
vithura Friday, 29 September 2023 03:15 PM
No surprises there. They are known for greasing the palms of politicians to achieve their own ends in weak democracies like Sri Lanka.
Jing Pang Friday, 29 September 2023 03:48 PM
....because most foolish politicians are in SL than any other country around the world! Otherwise, how can a bunch of idiots appoint an unelected, refused man as a leader and now worshiping including Myna!
sam Friday, 29 September 2023 04:15 PM
Because they can be easily bought
MR JAYASEKARA Friday, 29 September 2023 05:22 PM
very soon sri-lanka will be a chinese coloney, thanks to our politicians
Buddhist Friday, 29 September 2023 06:12 PM
It is to brainwash the MPs by bribing them and getting them to support Chinese views and oppose Indian views.
Ranil Friday, 29 September 2023 09:37 PM
I don't deny China's courtship but why are plundered assets and Chinese kick backs reside in bank accounts in Western countries? Most off-shore rogue financial institutions are investment fronts of Western conglomerates and their fund managers are the ones based in the the Caribbean and in the Middles East?
ChildOfGod Friday, 29 September 2023 10:19 PM
Agree to ALL that has been said above and the end result that China is trying to achieve is A MILITARY BASE and no matter what the President and or Government says, I predict they will end up getting it for TAKING IT (mark my words). and when they do WHO is going to STOP them??. More palms will be oiled until CHINA is ready to SAIL IN and take over. I hear Hambantota has all shops, streets and roads in Chinese, they don't use white vans, just plane loads arrive and settled in the south, get married to villages and set up house, then the next lot arrive. We have had in the last 10 years politicians from top to bottom with weak and or no BACK BONE, spineless, gutless, integrity, honesty and the likes have fallen on the way side. However, we must NOT blame China we have to accept the fact that we have a breed of politicians who will sell their SOULS and eventually the country, they do NOT give a rats tail about their citizens ITS ME/MYSELF, my FAMILY and all their stooges.
N V Jen Saturday, 30 September 2023 12:46 AM
China always plays its cards towards the vulnerable and the corrupt Sri Lankan MP's who are eagerly awaiting the commissions and freebies from any part of the universe, are the best suckers on this.
BeyondPathetic Saturday, 30 September 2023 01:58 PM
Because corruption smells like roses in Sri Lanka. So much to corrupt, so little time.
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