China and Sri Lanka marked two important anniversaries this month. They are the 70th anniversary of the Rubber-Rice Pact and the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations on February 7, 1957.
Several ceremonies have been held in both countries to mark the two momentous events. A ceremony was held last week with the participation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to mark the two major milestones, where a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping was read out.
President Jinping said that the China-Sri Lanka relationship was an example on how countries differing in size and status of development can work in harmony to achieve mutually agreed goals.
Sri Lanka was in fact one of the first countries to recognise the People’s Republic of China. One catalyst for this decision was the election in 1956 of a populist Government led by Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, who rode to power with the support of the Pancha Maha Balavegaya (Five Great Forces) – Priests, Teachers, Physicians, Farmers and the Working Class.
These were more or less also the powers behind the success of the Chinese Communist Party, which had gained power in China only a few years earlier. The Socialist ideologies of the two nascent nations matched perfectly and a new unshakable relationship was born.
The foundation for diplomatic ties were, however, laid five years earlier with the signing of the landmark Rubber-Rice Pact, whereby Sri Lanka exported rubber to China in exchange for rice, which was in short supply locally at the time.
This was a remarkable example for cooperation among two countries which did not even have formal diplomatic ties. Today, at a time when Sri Lanka is again experiencing a reduced rice harvest, China has pledged to send 100,000 MT of rice. This will go a long way towards addressing the rice shortfall in the market.
While 1957 and 1952 are very significant, ties between Sri Lanka and China actually go back several centuries. Sri Lanka, known in ancient times as Serendib, was a major trading point on the maritime silk route used by Chinese merchants.
Chinese bhikkhu Fa Hsien travelled to Sri Lanka in around 400 AD and left a vivid description of the country. Many other Chinese emissaries have travelled to Sri Lanka over the centuries. Moreover, Buddhism is another link that has strengthened the bonds between the two friendly nations.
Today, China is one of Sri Lanka’s biggest development and investment partners. The US$ 15 billion Port City project in Colombo is the biggest such investment project, inaugurated in 2014 by Presidents Xi Jinping and Mahinda Rajapaksa.
When completed 20 years from now, it will rival similar facilities in Dubai and elsewhere. There are, however, many misconceptions about the project that the authorities should clarify before they become embedded in society.
One cannot forget the other major Chinese projects in Sri Lanka. To this day, the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) remains a powerful symbol of the strong Sino-Sri Lanka ties.
In a fitting symbol of solidarity, the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka is located directly opposite the BMICH.
Among the other landmark projects built with Chinese aid are the Supreme Court complex in Colombo, the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, the Hambantota Port and the Mattala Mahinda Rajapaksa Internationl Airport. The authorities should find innovative ways to popularise the latter two among shipping carriers and airlines, as their potential is immense.
A controversy has also arisen especially with regard to these two projects, that they are part of a “Chinese debt trap”. But the “Chinese debt trap” is a fallacy, since China accounts for less than 10 percent of Sri Lanka’s overall loan portfolio.
Sri Lanka could indeed be in a debt trap thanks to heavy borrowing by all Governments, but China has nothing to do with it. For the moment, China has taken measures to help Sri Lanka address its foreign exchange crisis.
There is also a notion that Sri Lanka’s foreign policy is heavily tilted in favour of China at the expense of other countries under the present Government.
There is no doubt that Sri Lanka and China have a special relationship, but then that has been the case under all Governments. Nearly all Sri Lankan leaders have made State visits to China and many Chinese leaders have reciprocated these visits.
China has also been a steadfast voice in support of Sri Lanka at international fora, regardless of the Government in power in Colombo. This support has been especially valuable at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva where Western countries censure Sri Lanka over its human rights record.
While enjoying a very close relationship with China, Sri Lanka has always been careful in balancing its foreign policy interests, without essentially getting involved in the power plays of both global and regional powers.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister Professor G.L. Peiris and Foreign Secretary Admiral Jayanath Colombage have time and again stressed this factor.
In fact, when it comes to regional powers, Sri Lanka has always maintained that it would take cognisance of India’s security and other concerns. For example, Sri Lanka recently shelved a renewable power project helmed by China in the northern islands over such concerns.
And Sri Lanka has given equal prominence to investment projects from both India and China. Even as China is developing the Hambantota Port, the Adani Group of India will be investing in the Western Container Terminal of the Colombo Port. This is a microcosm for the way forward for Sri Lanka – a friend to all, with enmity towards none.