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The Biden administration has invited Taiwan to its “Summit for Democracy” scheduled to be held next month, a move that infuriated China, which views the democratically governed island as its territory.

The first-of-its-kind gathering was announced in the first foreign policy address of President Joe Biden in February, when he stated that he would return the United States to global leadership to face down authoritarian forces led by China and Russia.

China and Russia have been excluded from the 110 participant list on the State Department’s website for the virtual event on 09 and 10 December, which aims to help stop democratic backsliding and the erosion of rights and freedoms worldwide.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said the Government would be represented by Digital Minister Audrey Tang and Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan’s de facto ambassador in Washington.

“Our country’s invitation to participate in the ‘Summit for Democracy’ is an affirmation of Taiwan’s efforts to promote the values of democracy and human rights over the years,” the ministry added.

China’s Foreign Ministry said it was “firmly opposed” to the invite.

“U.S. actions only go to show democracy is just a cover and a tool for it to advance its geopolitical objectives, oppress other countries, divide the world and serve its own interests,” ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters in Beijing.

Meanwhile, several other countries, including Sri Lanka have not been invited while India, Pakistan, Nepal and Seychelles have been invited to the summit.

Sri Lanka will tap a Chinese company for a port project in Colombo, its largest city, that had been awarded to Japan and India before the partnership was scrapped early this year.

The decision highlights Colombo’s balancing act and comes a month after Indian conglomerate Adani Group was awarded another deal worth over $700 million to develop the West Container Terminal at the Colombo port. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said he wants to be “neutral” in Sri Lanka’s relations with India and China as the nation struggles with a shortage of foreign currency.

His cabinet on Tuesday agreed to have state-run China Harbour Engineering develop the Eastern Container Terminal while stipulating that local authorities would handle all operations. It cited recommendations by a cabinet-appointed committee as the basis for the decision.

The apparent pro-China tilt of Rajapaksa’s government is seen as a factor in the change of plans. Beijing has invested heavily in projects on the strategically positioned island under its Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

Sri Lanka had signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan and India in May 2019, under previous President Maithripala Sirisena, to jointly develop the Colombo terminal. The operating company would be 51% owned by the Sri Lankan government, with the rest held by Japan and India.

Rajapaksa, who took office in November of that year, indicated at first that the project would stay on course.

That changed this past February, when the cabinet decided that the operating company would be wholly owned by Sri Lanka, pushing Japan and India out of the project. The Japanese government called the unilateral move “regrettable.”

China has continued to provide financing for Sri Lankan infrastructure, taking control of projects such as roads and port facilities in the process. Concerns have been raised that this support is pushing the country into a debt trap, as was seen in a 2017 lease deal of the Hambantota port in the southern coast of the island. The previous government leased it out to a Chinese state-run company for 99 years, in return for $1.1 billion as a part of Colombo’s efforts to repay debt to China.

Source:Nikkei Asia

A delegation of Sri Lankan election officers visited India to observe the operation of election machinery on the ground level.

The Election Commission of India entrusted this responsibility to the District of New Delhi.

A short programme was also held at the AC-38 Voter Centre in the Delhi Cantonment area, a statement from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer said.

The visiting delegation from Sri Lanka was amazed to learn about the effective utilization of information technology in election offices and expressed interest in incorporating it into the Sri Lankan election machineries, the statement said.

During the event, the visiting delegation was given information on the various forms, including EROnet, GarudaApp, Voters Helpline app, PwD app, NVSP portal, Roll of BLOs, and the 1950 helpline. (ANI)

Amidst proposals and recommendations by various economists and international rating agencies to seek International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance, the Government of Sri Lanka is divided on seeking such assistance, both within the Cabinet of Ministers and the parliamentary group, according to Co-Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Mass Media Dullas Alahapperuma.

Speaking during the Cabinet press briefing held yesterday (24), he admitted that there exists contradicting views within the aforementioned groups and stated that the Government will consider the pros and cons of both views and will implement the more favourable view. However, he further claimed that as of now the Government is yet to reach a final decision on the matter.

“Last week, an extensive discussion was held on whether to seek IMF assistance and various views were put forward by the Cabinet of Ministers on the pros and cons of working with the IMF. Similarly there exist two contrasting views among the parliamentary group as well,” he added.

According to Alahapperuma a comprehensive discussion on the matter was carried out by the Cabinet of Ministers last week where differing views were disclosed, setting out the pros and cons of working with the IMF.

During the press briefing, the need to explore the possibilities of securing a bailout from the IMF due to the increasing foreign reserves crisis was discussed.

Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves have, as per Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) data, fallen to $ 1.6 billion by the end of October from $ 2.1 billion at the end of September.

During this Cabinet meeting, Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila cautioned that the country was treading a very dangerous path if it didn’t formulate a proper plan to address the foreign reserves crisis. He proposed that the Government approach the IMF.

Explaining further he stated: “Although the IMF will lay down conditions in order to support us, we are still in a situation where we could bargain and negotiate the conditions,” Gammanpila explained to the Cabinet, adding that delaying such a move would put Sri Lanka in a worse situation that might compel the Government to go begging to the IMF. “Once we are in a worse situation a few months down the line, we will not be in a position to negotiate and will have to accept their (IMF) conditions.”

However, Minister of Trade Dr. Bandula Gunawardana, Minister of Water Supply Vasudeva Nanayakkara, and the Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa opposed seeking IMF assistance, claiming that the Government would not be able to persuade the people to accept the IMF’s conditions in return for financial support.

Nanayakkara observed that based on past experience, the IMF would call for the slashing of subsidies and harsh measures to bridge the budget deficit. Dr. Gunawardana also agreed and observed that the people would not be able to bear the conditions.

Adding to this view, Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa had stated that the Government will not be able to justify turning to the IMF. He added that the IMF conditions would not be marketable to the people. Meanwhile, CBSL Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal too stated on Tuesday (24) that Sri Lanka will not seek assistance from the IMF.

Accordingly, as per reports, the Cabinet of Ministers had debated on the pros and cons of seeking IMF assistance for a one-hour period, where they had considered slashing subsidies now and resolving the crisis in the long term against continuing with the status quo and eventually being compelled to cut back on the import of essential items to resolve the forex issue.

The Cabinet meeting had concluded without reaching a final decision on the matter nor had they come to an agreement on an alternative programme to address the foreign reserves crisis.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa warned to revoke the civic rights to those responsible for the 2019 Easter Attacks by an act of parliament.

“If necessary we can take action to ensure they do not repeat those offenses,” he said while slamming the Yahapalana Government (2015 – 2019) for showing no regard to national security, and eventually being held accountable for failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday Attacks.

“They ruined the intelligence services and demoralized the military power by imprisoning war heroes,” he told a gathering on Wednesday (24), after opening the New Kelani Bridge in Colombo.

He said the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed by the previous government clearly mentions those who need to be held responsible, from the President, Prime Minister to the entire Cabinet of Ministers.

President Rajapaksa said his government has a 2/3 majority, and the government is prepared to revoke the civil rights of those accountable for the attacks.

“If you are demanding for something, be careful what you wish for,” he said.

He also questioned if the present opposition is the alternative to replace him and his government, while noting that he proved the critics wrong that he would not win without the votes of the minorities and also a 2/3 majority in parliament.