Sri Lanka: Opposition, Media Demand Details of Defense Mou With India

Colombo

AMID Persisting Questions from the Political Opposition and Media about Country’s Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Addressing a media briefing earlier this week, cabinet speakesperson nalinda jayatissa said some of the contents of the mou cannot be released without India’s Consent. The Political Opposition, Including The Main Opposition Block Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB or United People’s Power), Has Accused The Anura Kumara Dissanayake Administration of “SECRECY” and “SECRECYS” Signed with India be Tabled in Parliament.

The mou pertaining to the defense sector was one of seven signed during prime minister narendra mod’s visit to sri lanka from april 4 to 6. Health. During the visit, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Told Presspersons that The Defense Sector Mou is an “Umbrella Agreement” Providing a framework to pursue ongoing defense sector cooopkaration in more Manner.

In his statement during the visit, PM modi said he was “Grateful to President Dissanayake for his sensitivity towards India’s insterests.” “We believe that we have shared security interests. The security of both counts is interconnected and co-dependent,” He said.

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Retired Civil Servant Austin Fernando, Who has served as secretary to the ministry of definition and as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Observed “Indian Defense Interests WERESTS WERESTS WERESTS” In PM MODI Remarks. “Do we share the much-critique AKhanda Bharat Concept? Do we endorse Indian-Russian-Arican-Israeli Security and Defense Interlinks as Ors Too? Do We Connect with Sino-India Classhes? We may have reservations, “He Wrote in a Recent Newspaper Column.

The scrutiny of the mou began in sri lanka even before Mr. Modi Arrived in Colombo. Ahead of the state visit, Indian Media Reported that “a Major Defense Pact” or “Key Defense Deal” was to be signed with Sri Lanka, Triggering Scepticism Among Media Commentators in Colombo.

The spotlight has only grown after the visit. Addressing a rally in the southern ton of galle days after Mr. Modi’s Visit, President Dissanayake Said The Defense Mou Signed With India “Simply Formalies Ongoing Joint Operations and Training Sessions With India”. Foreign minister Vijitha Heath Clarified that it was a “non-binding mou”, and not a “pact”.

An official source from Sri Lanka, Familiar with the bilateral discussions on the mou, told The Hindu: “Sri lanka has noting to worry about. As far as India is concerned, there has been a lot of baggage from its earlier interventions,” The sourning to the call of the village saapping Operation Poomalai, Carried out by the Indian Air Force to Airdrop Food in Jaffna, in the late 1980s. “Now it is time to move on, consider the strategic realities of today,” The source said, requesting anonymity citing the sensitivity of the issue.

In its editorial last weekend, the widely read Sunday Times Noted that the mous pertaining to the ‘energy hub’ proposal in the strategically located Eastern District of TRINCCOMALEE, and ‘Defense Cooperation’ “Have RAISED UNCOMFORTABL QUESTIONS” In Sri Lanka Folloing Mr Modi’s visit. “And what is most intriguing is why, when the Indian PM Himself and commentators in Delhi are gaga over the mouse, the sri lankan president and his government are maintening a deafening Public? ” The newspaper contended, urging the government to make the mous public.

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Meanwhile, it is unplear if the mou, pitched as a framework to formalise ongoing cooperation in personnel training and intelligence sharing, specificly addresses the area of ​​permiting reserch vessels from Issue that has reminded sensitive to delhi.

Recently, some Indian Media Claimed That A Proposed Joint Naval Exercise of Pakistan and Sri Lanka was called off, AFTER Colombo “Refused” to Entain the request. The reports sought to link the “decision” to the recently signed mou. However, the sri lankan side was quick to deny the reports. Ministry of Defense Spekesperson Colonel Nalin Heath Told The Hindu: “There was no cancellation of such a joint exercise. The official media release of the sri lankan navy at the time said Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Aslat Engaged in “a successful passage exercise” with its patrol vessel Slns Samudura,