India did more for Lanka than IMF: Jaishankar

28 May 2023 10:50 am - 37 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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India has done more for Sri Lanka than the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Union Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar stressed on Saturday. The Modi government, he underlined, is working on developing an “extended neighbourhood” that involves islands in the Indian Ocean, Gulf countries and nations in South-East Asia.

“What we are also trying to do today is for a bigger, influential and ambitious India. We are trying to expand what should be our neighbourhood. We look at what this extended neighbourhood should be. It could be islands in the Indian Ocean, nations in South-East Asia and Central Asia, or Gulf countries. The relationship with the UAE and Saudi Arabia has undergone an enormous transformation. From what was a traditionally much more constricted view of our neighbourhood, we have undertaken something much more ambitious,” said Jaishankar during a talk on “Modi’s India: A Rising Power” at Anant National University in the city.

Pointing out how the world has become more uncertain, volatile and turbulent, Jaishankar underlined it was time to use the “complex global landscape” for the betterment and growth of India. The pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia conflict has helped to build “resilient and reliable supply chains”, “domestic capacities” and “trusted relationships,” he highlighted.
A Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, Jaishankar also spoke about the “linkages” and “perception” India has developed in the last nine years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“If you are the biggest in your neighbourhood, then it is in our interest that our other neighbours have a share in our prosperity, happiness and are linked to us. That will happen if we are generous and have a non-reciprocal way of engagement. Many of our neighbours like Bangladesh or Nepal and Bhutan are today linked with us through roads, railways, and waterways. We have electricity grid connections; there are fuel supplies. In many ways, they benefit from the scale and economy of India,” Jaishankar said while addressing an audience largely composed of students and faculty members from the private university.

“The linkages and perception today of India in the neighbourhood has changed. Nothing illustrated that more dramatically than what happened to Sri Lanka. Last year, when they went through a very deep economic crisis, we stepped forward in a way we ourselves have never done before. What we have done for Sri Lanka is bigger than what the IMF has done for Sri Lanka. If any of you have visited Sri Lanka recently, then you will note the popular perception that has accrued from this action,” he added.

Speaking about India’s relationship with China, the Union minister said, “The challenge from China is complicated. But in the last three years, it has been particularly visible in the border areas. There are clearly responses that are required and those responses have been undertaken by the government and a lot of it is to ensure that no attempt is made to unilaterally change the status quo in the border areas. We will ensure peace and tranquillity. It is the basis of our relationship. If peace is disturbed, it cannot be that the relationship remains unaffected.”

Both India and China, he said, will have to find some “kind of equilibrium” where there is mutual respect, sensitivity and recognition. “Today, if we see that respect, sensitivity and recognition, we can have a better relationship with China. But if we do not, then we have to stand up for our rights. We need to be firm in asserting our positions. That is unfortunately the current situation,” he added.(Indian Express)

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Comments - 37

Martyn Sunday, 28 May 2023 11:02 AM

Thank you India. However SL is an ungrateful country. Our politicians and people on the majority keep criticising India in unparliamentary terms.

Ama Sunday, 28 May 2023 11:07 AM

India gave CREDIT LINE to buy their own products. But such condition is not there with IMF. Anyway THANK YOU, India.

Hita Sunday, 28 May 2023 09:38 PM

Then why did you buy credit line facility?

Bandu Sunday, 28 May 2023 11:08 AM

Lets not go exaggerate minister. Remember India was responsible for training and funding LTTE. Also dragging the war for 30 years. When it should have ended in 5years.

BuffaloaCitizen Monday, 29 May 2023 03:57 PM

But conveniently forget the creation of LTTE is the ingrained racism of the Sinhalese and their leaders. When you slap a man everyday, it will not be long before he slaps you back one day.

Raj Sunday, 28 May 2023 11:51 AM

The kind of equilibrium you seek with China will not be a parallel , vertical or symmetry. It will be heavily tilted towards China!

Dina Sunday, 28 May 2023 12:37 PM

What India did is business... Gave credit line to buy their own products... This is not help. This is loan and we have to pay them back

Diallan Sunday, 28 May 2023 12:37 PM

Howmuch money do you want srialanka to pay to doze the ship?

Dr Rajaratnam , former doctor Jaffna Teaching Hospital Sunday, 28 May 2023 03:13 PM

As a Jaffna Tamil , I feel outraged by the statement from this Indian politician !! How many thousand Tamil men, women, and children were brutally murdered by your Indian men in uniform in Jaffna ?

Ranjith Sunday, 28 May 2023 03:28 PM

Common, India has done more damage to SL than any other country.,

Siripala Sunday, 28 May 2023 04:06 PM

Well said and appreciated.

Kumara Sunday, 28 May 2023 05:07 PM

India has been insisting to SL to implement 13th amendment plus since 2009 but it falls on deaf years. Will SL fulfill its obligations of the 13th amendment? If not what India can do?

Tissa Fernando Sunday, 28 May 2023 05:17 PM

Yes, they got oil from Russia at 60 Dollars per barrel and sold us on credit for 135 Dollars per barrel on credit, yes, they got rid of all their expired products by giving them us on credit, yes, while making big profit out of people's misery ,they ensured some control in the affairs , yes they also pushed their companies to get more long term business from us.

BuffaloaCitizen Monday, 29 May 2023 03:59 PM

In all this you Sinhalese were like baba's excepting them. Why didn't you refuse, now talking like a Thoththa baba.

B Perera Sunday, 28 May 2023 05:38 PM

The damage India did and still doing to us cannot be compensated with Dollars or Rupees.

India ripped us off, with high interest credit line Sunday, 28 May 2023 09:08 PM

The man is trying to cover up the awful high interest of the India credit line. We were desperate, but taking their high interest credit line mean a large portion of the IMF loan will go as easy revenue to the cunning Indians. At least we avoid getting invaded by them until the loan is paid back.

They were already over the moon about the 13A they forced in Sunday, 28 May 2023 09:10 PM

They were always pleased at punch for defiling our constitution with the 13th Amendment, put in by force of Indian Military. Now they make great money from interest on their credit line. Sooner we realise India is the biggest threat to our nation, long term, invasion wise or business wise the better.

Karalasingam Sivalingam Sunday, 28 May 2023 10:13 PM

India is our big brother, coexisting with all spheres of development would enhance our economy, science, technology etc

Chasind Sunday, 28 May 2023 11:28 PM

We Sri Lankans feel it is high time to leave sans any intervention in Sri Lankan affairs by India. Sri Lanka was initiating a development process through Chinese assistance, they invested more than 7 billion US dollars in Sri Lanka apart from the introductory and concessional loans. Therefore, no one could claim, including India, that they did help Sri Lanka immensely, other than CHINA, that is really a false claim.

Pantha Kumara Sunday, 28 May 2023 11:46 PM

India and China have both working on the same agenda. They want to control Sri Lanka. Our politicians are more bias to China.

bertram Monday, 29 May 2023 02:01 AM

@ Bandu... Wh,atever happened earlier India is not not obliged to help a crooked nation in the neighbored. However ungrateful majority in the island wag their tails to Chinese scoundrels who have screwed the country by giving loans to the royals.

bertram Monday, 29 May 2023 02:05 AM

@Tissa. Its much better than getting and returning unfit organic manure and losing USD 8 million from the Chinese. Sri Lankans are always ungrateful and insincere lot . Why don't you migrate to Pakistan ?.

shelliah Monday, 29 May 2023 02:22 AM

I would say to Mr.Jaischangar, India is helping one side its fine in the other side Indian troops killed and kidnaped and raped our Tamil can't be forgettable. they did worst than Sri Lankan Army in the sort term. if India doesnt involved in our country it will be a Singapore now. They had a plan to destroy our country.

BuffaloaCitizen Monday, 29 May 2023 04:01 PM

Sri Lanka can never be Singapore because of Sinhalese. They are culturally crooked, criminal and corrupt to the core. This is why from day one of obtaining independence we have been going down the pallam.

Fernando Monday, 29 May 2023 04:07 AM

Thank you India for coming to our help in time of dire need.

Supernova Monday, 29 May 2023 08:03 AM

It's not at all surprising to see many ungrateful comments here.. do remember one thing, when all the countries held to their purse strings so tightly, it was India that came to your aid. How many days would you have managed without food and fuel? Looks like you have conveniently forgotten about the miles and miles of queues for just a litre of petrol? You don't have to be grateful but don't spew venom on the one country that helped you out. Your diplomats and high ranking officials are so humble whenever they interact with their counterparts across the strait. Perhaps they know more than the average person commenting here on India's role? Try and think dispassionately before making half-baked comments!

Yoosuf Monday, 29 May 2023 08:47 AM

Tamil Nadu did much more better than central government

Mahila Tuesday, 30 May 2023 06:25 AM

When they ate the RICE and PARIPPU, they forgot it was from Sri Lankans adorably coined "Toilet Nadu"! These SL's are typical time-servers!!?? Chameleons!! Enjoyed every bit of the good feed from the “Tamil Toilets”, when they had nothing else to eat, even CHINESE "quick 1 minute" noodles!!!??? Worst Scumbags ever!!!??

Adwani Monday, 29 May 2023 08:48 AM

Now the Pot is calling the Kettle Black, we cannot blame India for Tamils issues, it was Banda's regime responsible for riots against Tamils from 1956 to 1983. That led Tamils to seek help from India.

Gamini Monday, 29 May 2023 09:24 AM

We SL will never appreciate India's help at a time when no one was willing to help us, not even China which along with Rajapakshas are responsible for the mess this country has got itself in to. That is our 2500 year old culture We will side with whoever gives us more

Mohan Monday, 29 May 2023 09:27 AM

Not everything was a credit line, there was plenty of food and medicine that was given free Why would Indian citizens tax money be given free to lazy SL who spend their time protesting on the streets and do not work or pay their taxes

murthy Monday, 29 May 2023 09:29 AM

Dr.Rajarathnam-why are you silent on the thousands of Tamil people and Sinhalese that your "LTTE" killed. Your liberators go and kills a hand that once fed him and you expect Indians to keep silent

NightOwl Monday, 29 May 2023 09:48 AM

If not for Sri Lanka, we would be in deep deep trouble for sure. Whilst, Inda in the past has committed manything against Sri Lanka's interest, last year's actions were examplary.

Jayantha Monday, 29 May 2023 10:30 AM

@murthy, you upcountry Indian Tamils brought as “ slaves” by the British to work as “slaves” in our tea estates must go back to India. When the Indians were raping and killing in Jaffna , there were many upcountry estate Tamils as “path finders “ working with the Indian Army.

Mahila Tuesday, 30 May 2023 06:39 AM

"Brought as Slaves to work in Tea Estates"!!?? May be what they have achieved in these years, kept SL economy ticking and as the best in South Asia!!?? \If that didn't happen, SL would have been Bankrupt long, long ago!!! Sole and Singular reason the Sinhalese who inhabited these hills, (were lazy) to wake up and attend 'Muster' at 7 am in the cool climes!!!??Not for any other reason!!!?? Perhaps SL would have degenerated population, due to infertility as a result of starvation long time ago!!!?? Both of us won't be here, NOW, to have this conversation "first and foremost"!!!??? 2600 Years of civilisation and culture!!??? Is there anything to learn from it!!!??? UNREALIST!!

Mahila Tuesday, 30 May 2023 06:39 AM

"Brought as Slaves to work in Tea Estates"!!?? May be what they have achieved in these years, kept SL economy ticking and as the best in South Asia!!?? \If that didn't happen, SL would have been Bankrupt long, long ago!!! Sole and Singular reason the Sinhalese who inhabited these hills, (were lazy) to wake up and attend 'Muster' at 7 am in the cool climes!!!??Not for any other reason!!!?? Perhaps SL would have degenerated population, due to infertility as a result of starvation long time ago!!!?? Both of us won't be here, NOW, to have this conversation "first and foremost"!!!??? 2600 Years of civilisation and culture!!??? Is there anything to learn from it!!!??? UNREALIST!!

Em Tuesday, 30 May 2023 06:12 AM

Very dangerous partner better get rid of

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India did more for Lanka than IMF: Jaishankar

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