Author: TELO Admin

Earlier this week, a Qatar-based media outlet published an article claiming India is building a 3km-long airstrip and two large jetties designed for military purposes at the Mauritian island of Agalega. South Block, which houses the ministry of defence in New Delhi, is silent on the issue. However, some officials are maintaining that the construction project is only for the benefit of the islanders and that it is for non-military purpose. Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has also categorically denied that the construction is for military purposes.

In 2015, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Mauritius, India signed an agreement for setting up and upgradation of infrastructure in the Agalega archipelago. The plan was to create an airstrip for landing bigger aircraft like Boeing 737-900 and Airbus 320. Setting up of communication systems, closer to the existing jetty was to identify any ship as friend or foe, was also planned. Aggressive presence of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and other Chinese commercial vessels in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)–considered the backyard of the Indian Navy–poses a challenge for India’s strategic interests. At a given time, PLAN has over a dozen of its warships in the IOR. And the Chinese research and fishing vessels are equally a threat to India’s maritime interest in the region.

So, to counter Chinese influence growing in the region with a military base in Djibouti, Indian strategists, too, have kept close watch on island nations like Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Seychelles. And deep defence ties will anyway benefit India at the time of crisis, as it is in New Delhi’s strategic interests.

Mauritius is one of India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and occupies a special place in Modi’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region). The island nation is also part of India’s security grid including Coastal Surveillance Radar (CSR) station of Indian Navy’s National Command Control Communication Intelligence network (NC3I Network). Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC), at Gurgaon is the nodal centre for NC3I Network, which was set up to provide coastal security and to avert tragic incidents like the 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai and to improve coastal surveillance. The NC3I network links 51 Naval and Coast Guard stations, located along the coast and on island territories. The network provides these stations coastal surveillance information obtained from various sensors such as the coastal radar chain of the Indian Coast Guard and automatic tracking systems as well as electro-optical cameras. The network rides on dedicated terrestrial data circuits, as well as, satellite communication, which help the stations in remote locations to be networked. “We do not want to be offensive but we must be strong enough to deter our enemies from casting an evil eye upon us”, former defence minister Manohar Parrikar had once said.

Early this year, India extended a $100-million Line of Credit to Mauritius to facilitate the procurement of Indian defence equipment. A defence official claimed that Agalega island is in close proximity with Seychelles and Maldives and the Diego Garcia military base of US to its east. An agreement to provide a HAL-manufactured Dornier aircraft and an Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv on lease to Mauritius on gratis basis for two years will boost their capabilities to patrol and monitor the extensive maritime domain more effectively. Interestingly, the Head of Mauritius Navy and the Mauritian National Security Advisor are Indian officers.

Similar to Mauritius, India went ahead with a deal to develop Assumption Island in Seychelles for military use, as both nations share close defence ties. Seychelles is of strategic importance to India as it lies close to global lanes of shipping and commerce and is an important base in the fight against seaborne terrorism and piracy in the Indian Ocean Region. In June 1986, under Operation Flowers are Blooming, the Indian Navy deployed its INS Vindhyagiri at the Seychelles Port of Victoria to abort an attempted coup against President Rene by Defence Minister Berlouis.

Besides monetary support to Seychelles, India also provided Dornier 228s and Chetak helicopters for their defence needs. India also deployed its military officers in Seychelles to train their armed forces.

Maldives is also another island, in which India has very strong interest. New Delhi extended a $50-million line of credit to the Maldives for defence projects along with an agreement to develop and maintain a key naval facility for the armed forces of the Indian Ocean archipelago. India shares strong maritime cooperation with Maldives, and in the past, New Delhi has provided patrol vessels and maritime surveillance aircraft to bolster Maldives National Defence Force’s (MNDF) capabilities. India is also making efforts to elbow China’s growing presence in Maldives as erstwhile government of Abdullah Yameen had leased out an island to China.

India’s strategic ties with Sri Lanka is deep, and India’s role in the civil war in Sri Lanka proves it. And, China’s role in the development of the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka and now coming out with a port city in Colomobo, close to Indian waters have irked the New Delhi. Moreover, the growing transfer of arms and cooperation between Beijing and Colombo is a matter of concern for India, especially after Sri Lanka allowed two Chinese submarines and a warship to dock at its port in Colombo in 2014. Since, then India has been making efforts to enhance defence cooperation with the island nation. India and Sri Lanka have deep defence cooperation, as India has named Sri Lanka as “Priority One” partner in the defence sphere. India is active in a number of areas of development activities in Sri Lanka. About one-sixth of the total development credit granted by India is made available to Sri Lanka.

“Its high time to invest more in these tiny islands, as they are strategically important for India. Our presence in these island nations not only gives us long legs, but also a way to keep a close eye on movement of aggressive Chinese military in the IOR,” said a senior defence official.

Source:The week

After the Attorney General’s Department yesterday (04) decided not to proceed with charges against Wasantha Karannagoda, a former Navy commander, over his alleged role in the abduction of 11 Tamil youth in 2008 and 2009, Yamini Mishra, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Director has responded with a statement, urging the Attorney General’s Department to explain the reasons for its decision.

“Sri Lanka has the world’s second highest number of enforced disappearances, with tens of thousands of people forcibly disappeared over many decades. This case was an opportunity for the Sri Lankan authorities to deliver justice for crimes under international law, by ensuring that those reasonably suspected of criminal responsibility, including those implicated for aiding and abetting and under command responsibility, are brought to trial,” Mishra stated.

She also noted that this case has already been beset by obstacles in the Sri Lankan Courts, and yesterday’s decision pushes justice further out of reach for the families of victims.

“Sri Lankan authorities must deliver truth, justice and reparations for all victims of enforced disappearance.” she said.

Amnesty International also noted that in January 2020, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a Presidential Commission of Inquiry into “political victimization” under the previous government.

“Many state officials facing trial over human rights violations have complained of being “politically targeted” by the previous government, and have sought the Commission’s support in absolving them from ongoing court cases. As a result, the Commission has intervened in cases that are pending before courts, especially where military members are implicated,” the statement further reads.

Yesterday (04), the Attorney General’s Department informed the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar that charges against former Navy Commander Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda over the alleged abduction of 11 youths will not be moved forward.

In the case filed against a group of naval intelligence officers pertaining to the alleged forced disappearance of 11 youths in Colombo in 2008 and 2009, Karannagoda is named the 14th defendant.

The case was taken up before trial-at-bar consisting of Champa Janaki Rajaratne, Amal Ranaraja and Nawaratne Marasinghe this morning.

Senior Lawyer Janaka Bandara, who represented the Attorney General, told the court that Karannagoda has filed a writ petition before the Appeals Court against naming him as a defendant of this case and that the Appeals Court has accordingly issued an interim order against hearing the charges levelled against him.

The government’s policy to ban the use of chemical fertilizers remains unchanged, Lalith Weeratunga, Principal Advisor to the President stressed.
He said some decisions had been made based on scientific facts.
Weeratunga made these remarks at a media briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) on the topic “Has the ban on chemical fertilizers been lifted?” this morning (05).
Responding to questions raised by the journalists, Weeratunga said that transforming a country that had been accustomed to using chemical fertilizers for decades to use organic fertilizers is a challenging endeavour and therefore, the different opinions directed at the move were reasonable.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Senior Professor Udith K. Jayasinghe, stated that only natural minerals and chelated matter produced using plant nutrients will be imported and those are essential for the biological enrichment of the soil.
The Secretary pointed out that as the use of organic fertilizer is a brand new experience for many farmers, a mechanism has been implemented to monitor these activities on a weekly basis and plans are all set to apply new technologies and techniques for this purpose.
He further added that the experts from state universities, faculties of agriculture and the field would be consulted in this regard and noted that they would be obliged to have the support of media outlets as well.
Despite import restrictions, certain decisions have to be taken in terms of national interest, but these decisions will not be taken outside of policy, Finance Ministry Secretary S.R. Attygalle stressed.
Commenting on the decision taken to import only natural chelated minerals and micro matter nutrients, the Finance Ministry Secretary said that such measures are being implemented under the strict supervision and recommendation of the Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant institutions.
Plans have been made to provide the required amount of organic fertilizer in each area based on a code given to the farmers following a soil test. Dr. Ajantha de Silva, Director General of Department of Agriculture, stated that the soil tests will commence next week.
Responding to the question raised by journalists as to how the government will respond if the harvest reduces due to the use of organic fertilizer, President’s Spokesman Kingsly Rathnayake quoted a statement made by the President and said, “Issues and complications may occur at the launch of the programme. However, the implementation of a sustainable green socio-economic pattern should not be delayed. We need to identify the perfect solutions to the problems that emerge. The farmers may assume that giving up on chemical fertilizers will reduce the yield. If it does, the President guaranteed that the amount of over Rs. 50 billion that is spent annually on chemical fertilizers will be used to compensate them”.

Sri Lanka’s State Minister of Defence Chamal Rajapaksa on Wednesday (04) said the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University (KNDU) Bill will not presented to Parliament on Friday (06).

He said the decision was made to provide an opportunity to other MPs to express their views on the matter.

The General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University (KNDU) Bill had drawn criticism from a number of sectors across the country, especially from teachers and principals.

One of the key demands of protesting teachers and principals is the immediate withdrawal of the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University (KNDU) Bill .

A plethora of organizations representing various fields including the Students’ Movement for Free Education, Federation of University Teachers’ Associations, Unemployed Graduates Union, Centre for Labour Struggle, United Health Workers Union and Janabala Pawura have staged protests against this bill.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has promised to present the amendments to the proposed Kotalawela National Defence University Bill, Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said on Tuesday (Aug. 03).

Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said as a government that respects democracy and the people, attention will be paid to all factions of society.

The committee appointed by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to study the proposed Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Bill has expressed its stance in a letter forwarded to to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The proposed amendments are:

Kotelawala National Defense University will be regulated and controlled by the University Grants Commission
The KDU Act should clearly state a fair and transparent system based on Z-score with regard to the admission of undergraduates who are not officers in the security sector
Facilitating the grant of a loan on the basis of repayment from income earned while employed
A civilian majority in the Governing Council