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<ul><li><keyword id="6355572" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="sri-lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword>’s <keyword id="6354721" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="parliament">Parliament</keyword> voted in favour of a confidence motion on the leadership current <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> Ranil <keyword id="3008776" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Wickremesinghe">Wickremesinghe</keyword>, who won the support of 117 out of 225 MPs. </li><li>The move could deal a decisive blow to former Prime Minister Mahinda <keyword id="60944" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajapaksa">Rajapaksa</keyword>’s plans to take control of the Sri Lanka’s government as it puts to rest his claims of having majority support. </li><li>The country is currently awaiting a decision by the <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> on whether President Maithripala Sirisena’s move to dissolve Parliament in November was illegal or not. </li></ul>In a move that could deal a decisive blow to former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s plans to take control of the Sri Lanka’s government, the country’s Parliament voted in favour of a confidence motion on the leadership current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the <a href="https://www.apnews.com/ed11fb63b9bb48d6be7799855b232e5d">Associated Press </a>reported. Wickremesinghe, who was unceremoniously booted out of office by President Maithripala Sirisena at the end of October, was able to muster a majority in the Parliament as 117 out of 225 members voted in support of him. Earlier this week, Wickremesinghe threatened to <a href="https://www.timesnownews.com/international/article/sri-lankas-ousted-prime-minister-sets-deadline-to-end-political-crisis/329086">launch a demonstration</a>, backed by tens of thousands of people in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo if he didn’t retain the prime ministership. The verdict effectively puts to rest Rajapaksa’s claims of majority support by the country’s lawmakers. Without the backing of the Parliament, Sirisena will not be able to restore his former ally-turned-rival-turned-ally Rajapaksa as Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister. However, it remains to be seen if Rajapaksa will back down. He has continued to stake his claim on the office of Prime Minister despite losing <a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/sri-lanka-politics/sri-lanka-president-calls-third-vote-on-no-confidence-motion-against-premier-idINKCN1NO054">two no-confidence motions</a> last month in Parliament. A case against Rajapaksa was subsequently filed by Wickremesinghe’s supporters in the Court of Appeals, which ruled earlier this month through a temporary injunction that Rajapaksa and his unofficial cabinet could no longer take decisions about the country’s governance. At the end of November, Rajapaksa’s cabinet reportedly signed off on two infrastructure deals with Chinese firms that could add to the strain on the country’s finances. While a follow-up hearing has been scheduled for next month, Rajapaksa has already filed an appeal in Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court. The apex court, however, is set to make a decision this week on the validity of Sirisena’s decision to dissolve Parliament in early November and call for elections following an interim order to delay the move. The court is expected to declare the move illegal since the country’s Constitution states that a President can’t dissolve the Parliament unless <a href="http://www.dailynews.lk/2018/02/13/local/142680/parliament-cannot-be-dissolved-four-and-half-years-jayampathy">four and a half years</a> have passed since its first sitting. The decision will determine whether a fresh round of elections will be held next month or not. As things stand, the political <keyword id="41673" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="crisis">crisis</keyword> could be in its final leg. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/as-sri-lankas-political-crisis-continues-its-unofficial-government-has-awarded-two-key-port-contracts-to-chinese-companies-heres-what-that-means-for-india/articleshow/66879136.cms">As Sri Lanka’s political crisis continues, its ‘unofficial’ government has awarded two key port contracts to Chinese companies — here’s what that means for India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sri-lanka-is-building-a-15-billion-metropolis-to-rival-cities-like-hong-kong-and-dubai/articleshow/65785690.cms">Sri Lanka is building a $15 billion metropolis to rival cities like Hong Kong and Dubai</a>

Sri Lanka's political crisis takes a decisive turn as the ousted Prime Minister wins a key majority vote in Parliament

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripla Sirisena has sent out his first message after the serial blasts in Colombo killed at least 156 people, according to agency reports. “I have given instructions to take very stern action against the persons who are responsible for this conspiracy,” the President said and added that all required steps have been taken to fulfill the responsibilities as a government, according to <a href="https://www.news.lk/news/politics/item/25069-president-condemns-dastardly-attack-and-orders-swift-investigations">the state-run daily</a>. President Sirisena appealed to the nation to act with utmost restraint and patience, and not to be misled by baseless rumours and false stories. He also urged the people to extend unstinted support and cooperation to the government for the steps taken at this trying occasion. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister <keyword id="300704" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ranil-Wickremesinghe">Ranil Wickremesinghe</keyword> has <a href="http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2019/apr/21/sri-lanka-serial-blasts-toll-reaches-156-as-blasts-jolt-churches-hotels-in-colombo-on-easter-pm-urges-citizens-to-remain-united-and-strong-1967071.html">reportedly called for an emergency cabinet meeting</a> in the wake of the attacks. The Sri Lankan Army has deployed 200 troops to advert further damages. Hundreds of worshipers gathered at the St. Anthony's Church in Kochchikade, Kotahena, St. Sebastian's Church in Katuwapitiya in Katana, and the Zion church in Batticaloa to commemorate Easter Sunday, at the time of the explosions. The other three blasts where reported at the Shangri-La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury five-star hotels in Colombo.

Sri Lankan President warns against rumours and false stories while promising stern action against the terror masterminds

<ul><li>Sri Lankan authorities have so far arrested over 40 suspects. </li><li>The serial bombing that has now claimed the lives of over 321 people including 38 foreigners. </li><li>Sri Lanka defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene told<a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/sri-lanka-blasts-probe-shows-attacks-retaliation-for-christchurch-says-minister-2027263"> </a>Parliament the findings of an initial probe. </li></ul> The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the serial blasts in Sri Lanka, one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the island nation's history that has killed over 320 people. It made the claim via its 'Amaq' news agency. Earlier, a preliminary investigation had revealed the attacks were in response to the mosque mass shooting at <keyword id="98905" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Christchurch">Christchurch</keyword>, New Zealand last month. Sri Lanka defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene reportedly <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/sri-lanka-blasts-probe-shows-attacks-retaliation-for-christchurch-says-minister-2027263">told </a>Parliament on Tuesday the Sunday blasts were “in retaliation for the attack against Muslims in Christchurch.” According to a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/apr/23/sri-lanka-bombings-attacks-live-news">confidential</a> briefing that was shared among government officials, one of the suspects had started sharing ‘extremist’ content from his social media handles, The Guardian reported. A small radical Muslim group, National Thowheeth Ja’amath, is the main suspect behind the attack. Sri Lankan authorities have so far arrested over 40 suspects in connection with the Easter day serial bombing that has now claimed the lives of over 321 people including 38 foreigners. A total of eight bombs struck the island country on Sunday, targeting churches and hotels. The country’s leaders have strongly been questioned over the massive security failure leading up to the attack, as intelligence officials had <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/22/world/asia/ntj-warning-sri-lanka-government.html?action=click&amp;module=Top%20Stories&amp;pgtype=Homepage">reportedly</a> alerted the authorities of a possible planned attack in mid-April. Sri Lankan cabinet spokesperson Rajitha Senaratne told the media on Monday that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe wasn’t made aware of the security threat, calling it a “colossal intelligence failure.” The comments came amid an ongoing rift between president Maithripala Sirisena, who oversees security operations, and the PM. The two have been at loggerheads in recent months leading to a political crisis. On Tuesday, the defence minister again claimed that key government officials were “never” informed about a potential terrorist attack.” On Monday, Sri Lanka's cabinet spokesperson had publicly apologized admitting that the Sri Lankan police had prior information on possible terror attacks but adequate measures had not been taken. The Christchurch mass shootings in New Zealand happened during Friday prayers at a mosque on March 15, which killed over 50 and injured many others in one of the worst deadliest terror attacks in the country. An Australian-born white supremacist, Brenton Tarrant, was held for that massacre. On Monday, President Sirisena declared a conditional state of emergency in the country for the maintenance of essential supplies and services. With agencies

ISIS claims it is behind Sri Lankan serial blasts

<ul><li><keyword id="6355572" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="sri-lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword>’s new government, which is yet to be recognised internationally, has awarded two key <keyword id="6404642" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Port">port</keyword> contracts with a cumulative value of nearly $58 million to Chinese firms. </li><li>The legality of the new government, led by former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, and its ability to make such deals has been questioned. Yesterday, Sri Lanka’s Parliament voted to cut his cabinet’s budget, citing its illegitimacy. </li><li>Sri Lanka’s port deals with <keyword id="1334" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="China">China</keyword> are particularly worrisome for <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>, since it is an important trade partner. In addition, they also portend the increasing presence of China’s military forces in the island nation. </li></ul> India’s bid for influence in the South Asian region just got a little bit trickier. Amid an ongoing political <keyword id="41673" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="crisis">crisis</keyword>, Sri Lanka’s new government, which is yet to be recognised internationally, has awarded two key port contracts with a cumulative value of nearly $58 million to Chinese firms, according to <a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/sri-lanka-china/update-1-sri-lanka-signs-port-deals-with-china-amid-political-upheaval-idUKL4N1Y44GC">Reuters</a>. The deals were reportedly signed by the state-owned Sri Lankan Port Authority on Thursday after being approved by the newly-installed cabinet of pro-China former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa last week. Rajapaksa ruled the island nation between 2005 and 2015. The legality of the new government and its ability to make such deals has been questioned. The political crisis was triggered at the end of October when President Maithripala Sirisena removed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed his former ally Rajapaksa to the post instead. In the weeks following the removal, the President has called for fresh elections and tried to dissolve the Parliament, where Wickremesinghe holds a majority. Both proposals were struck down by Sri Lanka’s highest court. As things stand, both Prime Ministers are staking their claim to the official post, despite Rajapaksa having failed two no-confidence motions. Yesterday, Sri Lanka’s Parliament voted to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sri-lanka-politics/sri-lanka-parliament-cut-pms-budget-amid-weeks-long-political-crisis-idUSKCN1NY0OI">cut the Rajapaksa cabinet’s budget</a>, citing his government’s illegitimacy. In principle, the move prevents the cabinet from making any big spending decisions which will inevitably lead to a conflict over the validity of the port deals. A move away from India to China Sri Lanka’s port deals with China are particularly worrisome for India, since it is an important trade partner and conducts a significant amount of its regional trade through the island nation’s shipping channels. In addition, this also portends the increasing presence of China’s military forces in Sri Lanka. Another worry for India is the removal of Wickremesinghe, who was reportedly in favour of awarding a $1 billion container terminal contract to an Indo-Japanese consortium. During his time in power, Rajapaksa sought closer ties with China and took on a number of Chinese loans for infrastructure projects, which has driven the country to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/world/asia/china-sri-lanka-port.html">a tenuous financial position</a>. In December last year, Sri Lanka was forced to hand over control of its $1.5 billion Hambantota Port to the state-backed China Merchant Port Holdings after being unable to meet its <keyword id="44647" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="debt">debt</keyword> obligations on the port. If Rajapaksa eventually succeeds in becoming the country’s official PM, he is expected to continue his pro-China policies as evidenced by these two recent port deals. That will further exacerbate Sri Lanka’s finances, bringing it closer into a Chinese debt trap - a fate that regional neighbours <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-bid-for-greater-influence-in-the-maldives-gets-a-boost-as-the-island-nation-reportedly-looks-to-scrap-a-trade-deal-with-china/articleshow/66708410.cms">Maldives</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/wary-of-a-debt-trap-malaysias-government-has-backed-out-of-three-china-funded-infrastructure-projects/articleshow/65502165.cms">Malaysia</a> are trying to avoid. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-bid-for-greater-influence-in-the-maldives-gets-a-boost-as-the-island-nation-reportedly-looks-to-scrap-a-trade-deal-with-china/articleshow/66708410.cms">India’s bid for greater influence in the Maldives gets a boost as the island nation reportedly looks to scrap a trade deal with China</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/wary-of-a-debt-trap-malaysias-government-has-backed-out-of-three-china-funded-infrastructure-projects/articleshow/65502165.cms">Wary of a debt trap, Malaysia’s government has backed out of three China-funded infrastructure projects</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sri-lanka-is-building-a-15-billion-metropolis-to-rival-cities-like-hong-kong-and-dubai/articleshow/65785690.cms">Sri Lanka is building a $15 billion metropolis to rival cities like Hong Kong and Dubai</a>

As Sri Lanka’s political crisis continues, its ‘unofficial’ government has awarded two key port contracts to Chinese companies — here’s what that means for India

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty ImagesA Sri Lankan man holds up a message on Twitter showing that Facebook had been banned in Colombo on March 7, 2018.</div></div></div><ul><li>The Sri Lankan government has banned the use of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.</li><li>The government asked internet service providers to block messaging apps after the discovery of Facebook posts encouraging violence towards the country's Muslim population.</li><li>The ban follows a 10-day nationwide state of emergency after violence erupted between Muslim and Buddhist communities. </li></ul> The Sri Lankan government has banned the use of social media networks, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, in order to quell violence throughout the country. A <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sri-lanka-declares-state-of-emergency-2018-3">10-day nationwide state of emergency</a> was declared in Sri Lanka on Tuesday amid increased violence between Muslim and Buddhist communities. Sri Lanka's Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, which had reportedly been monitoring social media for hate speech related to the violence, has temporarily blocked Facebook, Viber, WhatsApp, and Instagram in most parts of the country.On Wednesday, Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/sri-lanka-clashes-internet/sri-lanka-blocks-social-media-networks-to-stop-sectarian-violence-idUSL4N1QP39X">said</a> the government had asked internet service providers to block messaging apps after it was Facebook posts encouraging violence towards the country's Muslim population were discovered.Mano Ganesan, Minister of National Coexistence Dialogue and Official Languages, also confirmed the government's social media ban on Twitter, saying the country had decided to curb "all communal hate speech posts via social media."Senaratne said in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVXHOzNQACU">press conference</a> Wednesday that officials have been investigating who is fueling calls for riots and that several parliamentary officials had been mentioned.After a state of emergency was declared on Tuesday, curfews were instated in the central district of Kandy, a popular tourist destination that was the epicenter of Sunday clashes between the Buddhist Sinhalese majority and local Muslims, who make up about nine percent of Sri Lanka's population.Travel advisories were issued by the US, UK and Australia.Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has <a href="https://www.newsfirst.lk/2018/03/president-calls-multi-religious-leaders-assist-reinstating-peace-harmony/">called on religious leaders</a> across the spectrum to promote peace among their communities. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-nasa-has-not-sent-humans-to-mars-2018-2">The surprising reason why NASA hasn't sent humans to Mars yet</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

After declaring a state of emergency, Sri Lanka has banned Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp

The Sri Lankan government has declared curfew with immediate effect and it is not clear when it will be lifted, Reuters reported. The decision has come after a seventh blast killed at least two people in Dehiwala, near Colombo. The death of over 156 people in the serial blasts on Easter Sunday had barely sunk in, there was a seventh bombing in the country’s capital the same day, according to agency reports. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Earlier in the day, multiple explosions targeted the hundreds of worshippers at the St. Anthony's Church in Kochchikade, Kotahena, St. Sebastian's Church in Katuwapitiya in Katana, and the Zion church in Batticaloa, who were there to commemorate Easter Sunday. The other three blasts where reported at the Shangri-La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury five-star hotels in Colombo. 
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 Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe called for an emergency cabinet meeting, while <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/news/sri-lanka-bombing-president-maithripla-sirisena-message-after-colombo-blasts/articleshow/68975914.cms">President Maithripla Sirisena warned</a> of stern action against the conspirators. Schools have been ordered to remain shut for two more days and passengers have been asked to reach <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/news/sri-lanka-blasts-colombo-airport-advisory-after-terror-attack/articleshow/68975705.cms">Colombo airport at least four hours before</a> the flight. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced a series of attacks on churches and hotels in <keyword id="6355572" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="sri-lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword> as “cruel and cynical,” <a href="https://www.apnews.com/fabb6b93861a46d1b7cef4983450ffb3">the Associated Press reported</a>. In a telegram of condolences sent to his Sri Lankan counterpart, the Russian leader said Moscow remains a “reliable partner of Sri Lanka in the fight against international terrorism.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan too called the attack “an assault on all of humanity.” The Archbishop of Colombo is calling for those responsible for the Easter Sunday blasts in Sri Lanka to be punished “mercilessly.” Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith called on Sri Lanka’s government to launch a “very impartial strong inquiry” and to punish those found responsible “mercilessly because only animals can behave like that,” according to the agency report. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sri-lanka-blasts-colombo-airport-advisory-after-terror-attack/articleshow/68975705.cms">Colombo airport asks passengers to check in four hours before flights after terror attacks in Sri Lanka’s capital</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sri-lanka-blasts-foreign-offices-in-us-and-uk-issue-travel-advisories/articleshow/68975432.cms">Find shelter and exercise extreme caution, says US’ travel advisory after multiple blasts in Colombo, Sri Lanka</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/easter-sunday-blasts-deadly-explosion-kills-138-sri-lankan-prime-minister-urges-people-to-stay-united-and-strong/articleshow/68975878.cms">Easter Sunday Blasts: Deadly explosion kills 138, Sri Lankan Prime Minister urges people to stay united and strong</a>

Sri Lankan government declares curfew after a seventh blast near Colombo

<ul class="generic-article__summary--ul content--ul"><li class="generic-article__summary--li content--li">Incoming leader says he will not allow the island nation to be pulled into a proxy contest among the world’s major powers</li><li class="generic-article__summary--li content--li">But analysts foresee a cautious creep towards the pro-Beijing policies of predecessor and brother Mahinda</li></ul>Sri Lanka’s freshly elected president Gotabaya Rajapaksa will take a “low key” approach in restoring the cosy ties the country enjoyed with China during the 2005-2015 presidency of his brother, analysts said, as the new leader stressed on Monday that he would adopt a strictly neutral foreign policy. Paul Staniland, a prominent scholar of Sri Lankan politics, said Gotabaya was more likely to “spread his bets by reaching out to a variety of powerful states in the region and beyond”. Expectations before Saturday’s elections had been that he would not only sweep the polls against his main rival, Sajith Premadasa, but that he would also swiftly revert back to the overtly pro-Beijing foreign policy of his brother Mahinda. In his inaugural speech, the president said he would not allow the island nation to be pulled into a proxy contest among the world’s major powers. The 70-year-old won 52.25 per cent of the nearly 16 million votes cast, with the country’s majority Sinhala population overwhelmingly backing his platform that touted a return to his brother’s strongman leadership style and a focus on national security. The Rajapaksa brothers – alongside their two other siblings Basil and Chamal – are immensely popular among Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese population because of their role in crushing Tamil separatists and ending a 26-year civil war in 2009. “We will remain neutral in our foreign relations, and stay out of any conflict of world powers,” said Gotabaya after being sworn in on Monday. During the tenure of the outgoing president Maithripala Sirisena and the current Prime Minister <keyword id="300704" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ranil-Wickremesinghe">Ranil Wickremesinghe</keyword> – Sri Lanka’s key political mover and shaker of the last five years – the consensus has been that Colombo prioritised ties with the United States over Beijing. But foreign policy researchers said that a return towards a China-friendly policy was not so clear-cut. For one, there remains public trepidation about China from the Mahinda era, during which Sri Lanka chalked up large public debt due to the former president’s penchant for using cheap Beijing-backed financing to fund mega-infrastructure projects. A quarter of Sri Lanka’s foreign debt, which stands at 45 per cent of GDP, is owed to China. Among the projects built using Chinese financing are the now-infamous deep water port and airport in Hambantota, the Rajapaksa clan’s stronghold. The Sirisena government in 2017 was forced to hand over control of the seaport to Beijing as part of a debt-for-equity swap. The Rajapaksas’ dalliance with China also rattled regional power India, and Mahinda has previously accused New Delhi’s top spy agency of engineering his shock 2015 defeat to Sirisena. “This round is going to be about playing things in low key for China, but playing nevertheless,” said Jabin Jacob, an international relations professor at India’s <keyword id="44903" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shiv-Nadar">Shiv Nadar</keyword> University. “Perhaps the Rajapaksas have learned from the first time that there are consequences to playing the China card with India,” Jacob added. “It also does not help that the perception is that Chinese projects such as the Hambantota port and airport do not make money and have cost Sri Lanka.” Hemant Shivakumar, a senior analyst for India and South Asia at the consultancy Control Risks, offered a similar assessment – suggesting the new president is not likely to make dramatic changes to foreign policy even as he seeks to rebuild strained ties with China. “[Gotabaya] Rajapaksa is rightly perceived to be pro-China, and he will want to refocus the relationship and bring it back on track, while being cognisant of these [debt-related] issues,” he said. The analyst added that there was likely to be a “convergence of interests” between Gotabaya and China, with Beijing eager to show the new government that it was a “good development partner” and the new president hoping to show he would engage with the Asian power on Sri Lanka’s terms. Staniland, an associate professor specialising in South Asian security issues and political violence at the University of Chicago, said a likely effort by the new president to present Sri Lanka as open to having “multiple friends” would be in part due to “lessons of the past and a related desire not to rely too heavily on China”. He said it would be unsurprising if “in the medium term we see an overall tilt back towards China even as Colombo maintains a ‘portfolio’ approach to its international relations”. N. Sathiyamoorthy, a researcher based in India’s southern <keyword id="20154" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword> state close to Sri Lanka, offered an altogether different take – suggesting that the outgoing government of Sirisena and Wikremesinghe was in fact more China-leaning compared to the Rajapaksas. He said Mahinda merely signed the Hambantota deals that had been “hanging in the air for decades” and that “it is quite likely that others in his place would have done the same”. The same could not be said about the outgoing government, Sathiyamoorthy added. He said the Sirisena government, while blaming the Rajapaksas for plunging the country into a “debt trap”, was ultimately responsible for green-lighting the 2017 deal that handed over Sri Lankan land to China on a long-term lease. One mistake that the researcher – head of the <keyword id="12864" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chennai">Chennai</keyword> chapter of the Observer Research Foundation think tank – said the Rajapaksas were unlikely to repeat was their “indiscretion” in allowing Chinese submarines to be berthed in Colombo in 2014. Located off the tip of southern India, Sri Lanka has found itself increasingly a theatre for the US-China strategic tussle, with both superpowers seeking to strengthen their presence in the Indian Ocean. The Sirisena government – in particular Prime Minister Wikremesinghe – blocked further dockings of Chinese submarines but found itself having to furiously push back against rumours that it had <keyword id="7016615" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Secret-Plans">secret plans</keyword> to let the US build a naval base in the eastern region of Trincomalee. Apart from policies towards the world’s two superpowers, the new president’s view of Indian Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>’s government will be parsed by observers. Shivakumar, the New Delhi-based Control Risk analyst, said India would be scrutinising the new president’s national security policies in view of Sri Lanka’s extremist attacks earlier this year, as well as his policies towards the minority Tamils. Gotabaya, who like his brother Mahinda has denied allegations of presiding over <keyword id="52767" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Human-rights">human rights</keyword> abuses as they spearheaded the bloody civil war victory over Tamil separatists in 2009, has said he will significantly strengthen security and intelligence agencies that he says were sidelined by Sirisena’s administration. Jacob said he expected Gotabaya to visit India followed by China in his first 100 days in office. “But it will probably be China that will load him with the goodies,” the China-India watcher said. This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: New president set for low-key china approach

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Sri Lanka's political crisis takes a decisive turn as the ousted Prime Minister wins a key majority vote in Parliament

Dilsher Dhillon

Sri Lankan President warns against rumours and false stories while promising stern action against the terror masterminds

Sriram Iyer

ISIS claims it is behind Sri Lankan serial blasts

BI India Bureau

As Sri Lanka’s political crisis continues, its ‘unofficial’ government has awarded two key port contracts to Chinese companies — here’s what that means for India

Dilsher Dhillon

After declaring a state of emergency, Sri Lanka has banned Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp

Rosie Perper,Rosie Perper

Sri Lankan government declares curfew after a seventh blast near Colombo

BI India Bureau

Sri Lanka’s tilt towards China expected to be ‘low key’ as new president Gotabaya Rajapaksa takes the reins

SCMP

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