Sri Lanka presidential front-runner would restore relations with China: adviser
Sri Lanka’s leading presidential candidate, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, would “restore relations” with the country’s top lender China if he wins the Nov. 16 vote, his adviser said on Thursday.
President Maithripala Sirisena initially suspended all Chinese investment projects after his election in January 2015, citing allegations of corruption, overpricing and flouting of government procedures.
The following year, the Sirisena government allowed Chinese projects to resume after demanding changes in some. But diplomatic ties have been strained since.
Opposition candidate Rajapaksa, a former defense chief and brother of pro-China former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was ready to repair the ties with China, should he win the November election, one of his advisers said.
“Now China is looking at us differently. When Gotabaya Rajapaksa becomes the president… he will set the record right and restore the relationship to where it was,” Palitha Kohona told reporters in Colombo.
Sirisena sparked a political row this week when he alleged corruption at a Chinese company contracted to build the Lotus Tower, South Asia’s tallest tower. A Sri Lankan parliamentary panel said it would investigate.
Neither the company nor the Chinese embassy in Colombo has commented on the allegations. China has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in its multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka.
“I suppose the thinking was if we upset China, the West would come to us with endless bags of gold… But the bags of gold never materialized,” Kohona said.
Rajapaksa is widely seen as the frontrunner in November’s election due to his popularity among Sri Lanka’s Sinhala Buddhist majority for his role in ending a 26-year civil war in 2009.
However, his candidature is yet to be confirmed, with uncertainties lingering over a legal battle related to misappropriation of funds and his renunciation of U.S. citizenship. Sri Lanka does not allow dual citizens to contest elections.
Rajapaksa has denied wrongdoing and says he has already renounced his citizenship.
(Reuters)
It seems GOTA going in different direction again even after knowing what people needs.
If GOTA use the same gang without following the professionals, then he might get defeated for sure.
People are more vigilant at this time than in previous elections.
First priority should be People in Sri Lanka, restoring foreign relationship should take afterwards. If the internal matters are not sorted how he can settle outside matters.
Also the next elected president has to work with current government as the president will not have powers to dissolve the parliament. Also there will be a risk of NCM too.
People should provide above 60% to a single person to avoid such nonsense.
Yes, indeed. Being a founder member of the non-align movement SL should maintain cordial relationship with all the countries. If possible SL should refrain from entering in to binding unnecessary agreements such as ACSC/SOFA.