WHO'S AFRAID OF MARXISTS NEXT DOOR?
The Morning Standard|September 27, 2024
The worry about the new Lankan govt's leftist tilt may be overblown. It's likely to be guided by those offering a friendly hand out of its economic morass
MK BHADRAKUMAR
WHO'S AFRAID OF MARXISTS NEXT DOOR?

ON Sunday, the Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha called on Sri Lanka's president-elect Anura Kumara Dissanayake to convey greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi no sooner than the election result emerged. Dissanayake was yet to be sworn in. Another country to congratulate Dissanayake real-time was the US. These were, no doubt, exceptional gestures. Chinese President Xi Jinping's message came a day later, after Dissanayake was sworn in on Monday, as per protocols.

Apparently, neither New Delhi nor Washington was taken by surprise at Dissanayake's victory. In a post on X, Jha called Sri Lanka with élan as India's "civilisational twin". Greetings also poured in from the Indian opposition, including Rahul Gandhi and the CPI(M). The latter hailed Dissanayake's election victory as a historic event.

Running such a fine comb through another country's democratic election process is most certainly unwarranted, but it has become necessary because there is such a lot of angst being expressed that Dissanayake is 'pro-China', that the National People's Power coalition he leads is a Marxist alliance, that his party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna has an 'anti-Indian' pedigree, and so on-none of which is wholly incorrect, of course. But simplistic notions betray a lack of awareness about the nuanced politics of Sri Lanka.

Dissanayake's victory calls attention to the grim reality that Sri Lanka's deep economic crisis continues to devastate lives. Much of the optimism generated by the youth-led movement known as the Aragalaya ('struggle' in Sinhala) two years ago that toppled the ancient regime of the Rajapaksas a decadent political and social system characterised by absolutism, deep-rooted corruption and venality, and state terrorism-has dissipated.

Bu hikaye The Morning Standard dergisinin September 27, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye The Morning Standard dergisinin September 27, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

THE MORNING STANDARD DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Change the drape game
The Morning Standard

Change the drape game

Sari, the iconic garment steeped in centuries of history, is experiencing a remarkable revival, thanks to this groundbreaking collaboration

time-read
2 dak  |
November 16, 2024
Recognising atypical symptoms of diabetes in the elderly
The Morning Standard

Recognising atypical symptoms of diabetes in the elderly

DIABETES is becoming an increasingly prevalent and debilitating condition, affecting both the youth and elderly, particularly those over the age of 40.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 16, 2024
A WINTER MEAL WITH THE WAZA
The Morning Standard

A WINTER MEAL WITH THE WAZA

Kashmiri chef Tariq Ahmed, a Waza, brought his best game at a Kashmiri food festival. He breaks down the spirit of Wazwan rooted in togetherness, celebration, and the use of fresh and local ingredients.

time-read
4 dak  |
November 16, 2024
Italy, France book Nations League quarters spot
The Morning Standard

Italy, France book Nations League quarters spot

ITALY ensured qualification for the Nations League quarterfinals with a victory over Belgium on Thursday that also guaranteed France a place in the last-eight despite a lacklustre display in a scoreless draw with Israel under tight security in Paris.

time-read
1 min  |
November 16, 2024
The Morning Standard

574 players listed for IPL auction, 13-yr-old youngest

RISHABH Pant, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Arshdeep Singh will headline a 574-strong list of players with a top base price of ₹2 crore at the Indian Premier League auction scheduled in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah on November 24 and 25.

time-read
1 min  |
November 16, 2024
Kamboj 3rd to claim perfect 10
The Morning Standard

Kamboj 3rd to claim perfect 10

HARYANA pacer Anshul Kamboj entered the record books on Friday as he became only the third bowler in the history of Ranji Trophy to claim all 10 wickets in an innings.

time-read
1 min  |
November 16, 2024
The Morning Standard

Badoni hits unbeaten ton in Delhi's strong reply

SKIPPER Ayush Badoni slammed an unbeaten 116 as Delhi scored 238/5 in reply to Jharkhand's first innings total of 382 in their Ranji Trophy match on Friday.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 16, 2024
Fulton presses for restructure
The Morning Standard

Fulton presses for restructure

IMMEDIATELY after winning the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, neither the Indian men's hockey team nor their head coach Craig Fulton had much time to celebrate.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 16, 2024
The Morning Standard

Rahul suffers blow on right elbow

IF any player that has managed to attract so much media attention before a series, it has to be KL Rahul this time Down Under.

time-read
1 min  |
November 16, 2024
Samson-Tilak carnage @ J o,burg
The Morning Standard

Samson-Tilak carnage @ J o,burg

THIS has been a glorious TZOI year for the Indian team and their batters ringfenced 2024 with a sort of hedonism you wouldn,t have associated with this team even a few years ago.

time-read
1 min  |
November 16, 2024