The landslide victory of Marxist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) in Sri Lanka has signaled a major change in politics. The new President of Sri Lanka is not new to politics. He is very active in strengthening India-Sri Lanka relations. Following his visit to India in February, he praised India for supplying food and medicine to Sri Lanka during its economic crisis. He acknowledged how Delhi supported Colombo in difficult times. During the election campaign, he stressed that Sri Lanka's land, sea and airspace would not be used against India's security interests.
New government in Sri Lanka
Earlier, right-wing governments in Colombo had made efforts to woo China in return for substantial investment in infrastructure. This became a noose for them. Most of them got trapped in the debt trap. The outcome was disastrous for Sri Lanka and the process seriously jeopardized India's security interests. Now the question has become even more serious. This is because the pro-Marxist party is in power in Sri Lanka. In such a situation, India has every reason to be apprehensive about its action. However, President Dissanayake has given assurance to the contrary.
The party of Sri Lanka's new President Dissanayake realized the strength of India, forgot decades old enmity and found goodness in friendship.
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Leftist party JVP took command
It is believed that JVP harbors groups within its party which are anti-Tamil. Any conflict between Tamil groups and Colombo may have triggered agitation before 2009 by pro-LTTE organisations, activists and some elements of DMK, AIADMK in Tamil Nadu. It can be revived by those who are trying to take advantage of such issues to remain relevant in politics. This situation could create domestic security problems for the central government. President Dissanayake should exercise caution in dealing with sensitive issues affecting India's security and strategic interests.
Challenges facing the new President Dissanayake
The new government of Anura Kumar Dissanayake in Sri Lanka has a long list of problems. There are four issues facing this government that require the immediate attention of President Dissanayake. This included economic reforms, domestic stability, foreign policy and rapprochement with the Tamil minority. Sri Lanka's economic crisis was caused by loans given by China and led to the intervention of the IMF. India had to help. The new administration will have to balance economic revival with addressing long-standing ethnic and political issues.
How did the situation worsen in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka's situation became critical during 2022 due to its debt-ridden economy. People's anger against the government came out on the streets, which increased the problems of common citizens. They had to stand in queues for daily needs and even life-saving medicines. The Constitution was completely broken due to which the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fell.
That's why the people changed the government
However the subsequent regime led by Ranil Wickremesinghe tried its best to restore stability and peace. But economic troubles and widespread anger over elitism in governance persisted. The elections that followed gave the public an opportunity to express their anger, press the reset button, and elect a government capable of arresting economic decline.
China's debt increased the crisis
While the Tamil issue has historically dominated the political narrative in Sri Lanka, the economy has become a matter of serious concern in 2022 due to the Chinese debt trap. In the final stages of the civil war, Beijing improved its relations with Colombo by supplying military hardware to the Sri Lankan army and opposing UN resolutions condemning the island nation, receiving commercial projects such as the Hambantota port in return.
Unable to repay the loan, Sri Lanka converted its share into equity. Under which Hambantota was handed over to China Port Holdings. As of 2017, Colombo was spending about 83 percent of its revenue on debt payments. In this, interest payments will almost double from $2 billion to $4.2 billion by 2022.
When IMF imposed conditions, India supported
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) came to Sri Lanka's rescue but imposed strict conditions, putting the Wickremesinghe government under public attack. During this crisis, Colombo got great relief from India with a total help of 4 billion dollars. There is a consensus among all political parties regarding the timely assistance provided by India.
What does the new Sri Lankan government mean for India?
Notorious for its involvement in two major rebellions in 1971 and 1987, the JVP is now part of Sri Lanka's multi-party parliamentary democratic process. Parliamentary elections are due to be held in November, so political rhetoric should be positive and less sharp. The general election may result in a fractured mandate, but this should not hinder the economic revival process in a presidential system.
Ideologies and differences among religious sects have taken a back seat in Sri Lanka due to the severe economic crisis, affecting both the rich and the poor. President Dissanayake can get the economy back on track by avoiding wasteful spending and staying away from the debt trap with ambitious white elephant projects.
