Sri Lanka Must Stay Clear Of EGO WARS

Tension between United States and China

- Ravi Nagahawatte

When patrons drive their cars smoothly on the stretch from Galle to Hambantota on the Southern Expressway the second thing to do after offering a prayer to one’s chosen deity might be to thank the Chinese for funding the construction of this facility.

Travelling is easy and saves time when one drives on the Southern Expressway; thanks to the government inviting investors to enhance our roads. But even after this facility was completed the Chinese have remained; their presence now a growing concern.

Why? Because there is a perception, even among the educated who promote investment in Sri Lanka, that the Chinese invest in countries which are already reeling under debt and impose themselves. The Chinese still haven’t done this to Sri Lanka, but what would stop them from acquiring assets in a country like ours that has borrowed from them and is unable to pay back a loan?

Whenever the Rajapaksas have secured administrative power Sri Lanka has always turned towards the Chinese for development work and investment. This has been at the expense of causing concern to India; another investor in Sri Lanka apart from being the island’s closest neighbour.

Now Sri Lanka is in a spot because sanctions imposed by the United States of America prohibits American companies from supplying to 24 listed Chinese companies involved in constructions abroad. One of these named Chinese companies is involved in the construction of the Port City Project in Colombo.