18 February, 2025

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India Is Our Largest Neighbour And The Most Important Country In The Region

By Gotabaya Rajapaksa –

Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Gotabaya Rajapaksa

I am honoured to deliver this keynote address at the opening session of the fourth annual “Galle Dialogue”. On behalf of the Government, I take this opportunity to welcome to Sri Lanka the many distinguished foreign speakers and delegates at this conference. I also extend my best wishes to the many illustrious Sri Lankan participants at this event. The Galle Dialogue is fast becoming an important fixture in the calendar of international maritime conferences, as shown by the fact that speakers and delegates from 35 countries are taking part in this event. As with the recently concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, this is a very positive indication of Sri Lanka’s increasing stature in international affairs since the dawn of peace four years ago. This is something about which all Sri Lankans are justly proud.

The very appropriate theme chosen for this year’s Galle Dialogue is “Emerging Maritime Trends in the Indian Ocean”. Throughout history, the Indian Ocean has been a major conduit of international exploration, migration and commerce. Many of the world’s first civilisations evolved around or in proximity to its shores. Trade along or through the Indian Ocean was an important feature from early in human history. Aided by the seasonal monsoons, merchant vessels travelled east and west across the Indian Ocean for many centuries dating back to antiquity. The ancient Greeks, Romans, Persians and Chinese all traversed the Indian Ocean, often stopping in this country, before the first modern Europeans led by Vasco de Gama in 1497 came to these seas. During the era of European colonialism, the Indian Ocean and its littoral nations became sought after possessions of many empires. The British emerged as the major power in the region in the early 19th century. With the rapid development over the last two centuries of Europe, the United States, and later Japan, the Indian Ocean receded temporarily from global prominence. During this period, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans were the world’s most important oceans. In recent years, however, there has been a pronounced shift in focus back to the Indian Ocean. A few simple facts demonstrate why this is.

The Indian Ocean covers more than 73.5 million square kilometres, occupying approximately 20% of the Earth’s sea surface. Bounded by 36 nations and 2 island territories, the Indian Ocean region is populated by nearly 2.5 billion people, or just over 35% of the global population. A very high proportion of the world’s seaborne trade takes place across the Indian Ocean. This includes more than half of the world’s containerised trade, between half to two thirds of the global trade in hydrocarbon resources, and one third of the world’s bulk goods shipments. In addition to being the primary conduit of the oil and coal that fuel the engines of the global economy, the Indian Ocean is in itself an important source of oil and natural gas. Parts of it are increasingly viewed as being amongst the last untapped petroleum frontiers on the planet. As a warm water ocean, the Indian Ocean is also very conducive to the growth of fish stocks, and its vast wealth of biological resources accounts for nearly 20% of the world’s total fish production. Further, the Indian Ocean abounds in non-renewable resources such as industrially valuable minerals and precious metals.

From a geostrategic perspective, the Indian Ocean is becoming more and more important in the current era. The unipolar world that emerged after the end of the Cold War is changing to one where Asian nations such as China and India are gaining in prominence. The rise of these two nations, the rapid growth of intra-Asian and Euro-Asian trade, and the criticality of its sea lines of communication to the global economy have resulted in the Indian Ocean assuming a position of central importance in geopolitics. Major powers, including the United States of America, the European Union nations, Japan, China, and Russia have strategic connections to and interests in this region. The world’s two newest Nuclear Powers, India and Pakistan, are Indian Ocean countries. A high proportion of the world’s political and other conflicts are in countries within the greater Indian Ocean region, which is still impacted by the aftershocks of American intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a result of these all factors, and in order to contain the piracy that affects the Indian Ocean’s shipping lanes, many world powers have had a significant naval presence in the Indian Ocean. These include extra-regional nations such as the United States of America, Britain, France, and China, as well as regional nations including India, Iran, Egypt, and Australia. Sri Lanka too is presently engaged in enhancing its naval and coast guard capabilities in the Indian Ocean, and plays its part in improving the safety of the region through other means as well.

Against this backdrop, there are several emerging trends in the Indian Ocean Region that command our attention. The most high profile of these is the piracy and armed robbery by Somali pirates in a region that includes the Arabian Sea, the Gulfs of Aden and Oman, and the southern Red Sea. This piracy has effectively taken the entire shipping community in the Indian Ocean Region under siege. With the withdrawal of foreign forces from Somalia in the mid 1990s, there was a significant escalation of piracy in the Indian Ocean. Incidence of Somali based pirates attacking passing ships and taking crews hostage became more and more common near the end of the last decade, seriously threatening one of the world’s busiest trade routes. The range of the pirates began to increase significantly with the use of mother ships that transported small skiffs to attack and capture commercial and fishing vessels. Ransoms paid for the release of such ships and their crew increased over time, as did the physical dangers posed by the pirates, which led to considerable pressure on the international shipping industry.

In response, several resolutions in the United Nations Security Council after 2008 enabled international action against this threat. Counter piracy coalition forces including the EU Naval Force, NATO’s Standing Naval Maritime Groups, and the Combined Task Force were set up. Regional powers increased naval operations. Despite the presence of these forces, however, incidence of piracy continued to increase between 2008 and 2011, until declining somewhat in the last two years. One of the primary causes for this recent decline has been the increasing presence of armed private security teams on-board merchant vessels. Ship owners as well as insurance underwriters have started to demand the presence of private security teams on board ships crossing the piracy-affected areas of the Indian Ocean. This has led to a change in the policies of many nations with regard to the presence of armed personnel aboard vessels in international waters, and has subsequently enabled a rise in the presence of on board private security teams.

I am pleased to note that Sri Lanka is one of the countries that has taken the lead in providing such security services. The Government created a Maritime Division in a fully state-owned security company to provide weapons and ammunition to private maritime security companies engaged in on board security duties. Later, through a Public Private Partnership with a local private security company, Sri Lanka started to provide vessels with on board teams. These teams include former Navy personnel with considerable experience in combating attacks on sea. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE was the only terrorist group in the world to possess a sophisticated naval wing, known as the Sea Tiger Wing. During the three decades long war in Sri Lanka, which ended with the LTTE’s defeat in May 2009, the Sea Tigers used fast attack craft and even suicide vessels to pose a threat to maritime security in this region. The experience gained from combating such ruthless opponents is invaluable in countering the activities of pirates in international waters.

Apart from the provision of private security teams on board ships, Sri Lanka is also a major disembarkation point for security teams from other countries. The Government provides logistical support for the movement of weapons and ammunition, including the provision of bonded warehouses for their storage. More recently, Sri Lanka has begun operating stringently regulated and secure floating armouries to fulfil this requirement. Utmost precautions are taken to ensure complete accountability for the weapons and equipment provided. Furthermore, the provision of training facilities for Sea Marshals has begun in the very recent past. This is especially important because the International Maritime Organisation requires all Sea Marshals to be properly trained and certified. With the provision of all of these services, Sri Lanka is increasingly gaining recognition as an important contributor to the security of the Sea Lanes of Communication in the Indian Ocean. It is likely that the demand for these services will continue until counter-piracy action by international fleets and continued use of on-board private security combine to deter piracy in this region.

The illicit trafficking of narcotics, weapons and people is another serious issue in the Indian Ocean region. Although narcotics smuggling through land routes is at a higher scale than it is on sea, the volume of drugs that is trafficked through these seas is nevertheless considerable. Opiates from the Golden Crescent and the Golden Triangle are smuggled through the Indian Ocean, along with amphetamine-type substances and cannabis from these areas and other regional countries. Drug cartels use fishing boats, specially modified vessels and even exploit containerised cargo to transport drugs from their points of origin to their destinations all over the world. It should be noted that money generated from the drugs trade has also been linked to terrorism, For example, the LTTE used money it raised from its drug smuggling operations to fund weapons purchases for its terrorist activities in Sri Lanka.

The smuggling of weapons through the Indian Ocean is a serious issue that can have a very detrimental impact on the national security of nations in its littoral. From the mid 1980s until its defeat in 2009, the LTTE managed to smuggle thousands of items of heavy weapons, light weapons, small arms and sophisticated equipment through the sea for its terrorist activities in Sri Lanka. The items smuggled in included heavy artillery, anti aircraft guns, surface to air missiles, mortar, armoured vehicles, communication systems, and even light aircraft. These weapons were illegally procured by the LTTE’s international network and smuggled to Sri Lanka via international waters through more than twenty large vessels and a large number of trawlers registered under different flags. The LTTE’s large vessels lay at anchor in international waters more than a thousand nautical miles away from Sri Lanka, effectively functioning as floating warehouses. Smaller vessels were dispatched to smuggle these items to the coast. During the Humanitarian Operation to liberate the country from the LTTE’s terrorism, the Sri Lanka Navy ventured into distant high seas on five occasions and destroyed eight of these floating warehouses. That this organised and sophisticated weapons smuggling racket has been destroyed in this part of the Indian Ocean has considerably improved maritime security in this region, but the potential exists for similar activities to fuel armed insurgencies and terrorism in coastal nations.

Human smuggling in the Indian Ocean is another major illicit activity that warrants increased international attention. Primarily due to economic reasons but sometimes also due to conflict, large numbers of people from developing countries seek to migrate illegally into wealthier countries such as Australia, Canada and European nations, as well as the Gulf States. Victims of human traffickers will often find themselves in serious trouble, often with their lives at risk. Having sold their properties and given their entire wealth to the smugglers, they will find themselves trapped on board unsafe vessels in terrible conditions alongside hundreds of other illegal immigrants. Even if they survive transit, they are sometimes sold into servitude or more often find themselves stranded in temporary camps at their intended destinations or other countries until eventual repatriation. Despite the risks involved, people smuggling has become a lucrative business for certain criminal groups, some of which are linked to international terrorism and drug trafficking. During the last several years, we have seen vessels such as the MV Sun Sea which belonged to the LTTE have engaged in people smuggling, alongside many smaller operatives active in Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and other countries in the region.

The answer to the illicit trafficking of drugs, weapons, and persons is the increase in cooperation amongst the nations in the Indian Ocean region. Effective sharing of intelligence between countries, increased coordination between law enforcement agencies and Government departments, and establishing bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to combat these issues cooperatively is critical if trafficking is to be prevented. Countries cannot effectively address these issues on their own accord. For its part, Sri Lanka has worked together very closely with Australia on the issue of human smuggling in the recent past. This bilateral effort has been extremely successful. When the Australian Prime Minister visited Sri Lanka during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, he met me, the Navy Commander and other key officials involved in this effort to commend us on its success. The Sri Lankan Government has also worked with the Governments of India and the Maldives on establishing a trilateral agreement for cooperation in surveillance, anti piracy operations and curbing illegal activities. As with the recent increase in coordinated international action on the issue of Somali piracy, an increase in cooperation amongst nations within the Indian Ocean region will be very encouraging from the perspective of maritime security. This increase is a trend that should be further fostered.

Terrorist activity on sea is another potential threat facing the Indian Ocean region. As noted earlier, Sri Lanka has had considerable experience in facing this threat. During its heyday, the LTTE’s Sea Tiger wing posed a considerable danger through its capability to engage Security Forces using semi-conventional tactics, amphibious operations, and suicide attacks. It was also used to induct terrorist cadres to sensitive areas on land via sea, thereby enhancing the LTTE’s deep penetration capability. Although the comprehensive defeat of the LTTE in May 2009 neutralised the threat posed by the Sea Tigers, the possibility remains that groups such as Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and smaller, emerging terrorist and criminal organisations in the region will follow a similar modus operandi to create danger at sea. The fact remains that despite various terrorist groups having differing ideologies and agendas, the experience, tactics and techniques developed by one group can easily spread to others. To some extent, this has already been the case. The LTTE was one of the pioneers of using Fast Attack Craft fitted with outboard motors to engage in sea piracy. The tactics it used were very similar to those adopted much later by Somali based pirates. Sea Tiger tactics could also easily have inspired Al-Qaeda’s suicide attack on the USS Cole in the year 2000. The strategy of infiltration via shore used in the 2008 Mumbai Attacks was also one employed by the LTTE in prior decades.

Although some countries that once proclaimed this ideal have become very selective in their position, the fight against terrorism is a global one against an enemy defined by its deliberate targeting of civilians to achieve its goals. Terrorism should be crushed wherever it emerges, and nations should support each other’s efforts to do so wholeheartedly. Genuine cooperation amongst nations at the highest level is needed for this to happen in a systematic and coordinated fashion. Intelligence sharing, fostering maritime domain awareness through joint operations and combined patrols, and enhancing interoperability amongst Navies is important. The world’s major naval powers should also provide assistance to improve the resources and capabilities of smaller nations in order enhance overall maritime security. For its part, Sri Lanka is proud to have neutralised the threat of maritime terrorism in its waters and remains committed to contributing to the security and safety of the Indian Ocean region. However, for surveillance operations and to carry out patrolling in blue waters, Sri Lanka must obtain naval assets that can operate further away from shore. The support of wealthier nations is sought for the procurement of such assets. In this context, I am particularly appreciative of the Australian Government’s decision to gift two large Bay Class patrol vessels to Sri Lanka next year. Such capacity augmentation will enable the Sri Lanka Navy, which is the best-suited force for this task, to combat illegal trafficking and contribute more to the stability and security of the Indian Ocean.

The maintenance of security is especially important in light of the increasing economic importance of this part of the world. The Indian Ocean influences the global economy in several ways. It is an ocean through which a considerable proportion of global trade takes place. It has been called the global energy superhighway by some commentators because of its role in transporting hydrocarbon fuels from the Middle East to the fast developing economies of China, India and other Asian nations. Much of the industrial production of these nations is in turn shipped to the rest of the world through the Indian Ocean. Therefore, as one of the world’s most important trade routes, the Indian Ocean is extremely critical to the world economy. Maintaining its safety is of paramount importance. This has resulted in the increasing presence of extra-regional naval task forces in the region. It has also led to increasing efforts by regional powers to enhance their blue water capability, and to greater efforts by smaller regional nations to upgrade their navies and coast guards.

The enormous intrinsic value of the Indian Ocean for the countries in the region also needs to be stressed. Fish stocks in its waters contribute significantly to the economies of littoral nations, and have an impact on the global economy by accounting for approximately one fifth of the world’s total fish production. There are a number of threats to these fish stocks that are a cause for international concern, including overexploitation, pirate fishing and marine pollution. There is emerging consensus amongst experts that many fish stocks throughout the world are dangerously close to the point of collapse due to prolonged overfishing over the past many decades. Although the Indian Ocean is still relatively robust in this regard, the danger exists that continued overexploitation would increase it vulnerability to this in future.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing contributes significantly to this potential threat. Some of the methods frequently used in pirate fishing, such as bottom trawling, blast fishing, and even long-line fishing can harm the marine environment greatly, destroying coral reefs and the seabed ecosystem, and even endangering seabirds. Extra-territorial fishing by well-equipped large trawlers from other nations is also especially problematic for local fishing communities in developing nations. Marine pollution through agricultural run off, sewerage and dumping of toxic material including discharge from oceangoing vessels also threatens fish stocks and other organisms critical to sustaining the marine ecosystem. Increasing international attention to these problems in recent years is an encouraging trend. However, concrete action by regional nations to regulate fishing their exclusive economic zones and ensure respect by their fishing communities for other nations’ territorial waters is critical if these issues are to be mitigated in the future.

In addition to its biological resources, the Indian Ocean region has a considerable wealth of energy and non-renewable resources. Much attention has been paid in recent years to the exploration of offshore oil and gas reserves in the Indian Ocean region. As the price of oil rises, the extraction of these hydrocarbon reserves becomes commercially viable and it is likely that the Indian Ocean will feature as a significant source of oil in future. Exploration is already taking place in several parts of the Indian Ocean, notably in the Timor Sea, off the shores of East Africa, and in the Bay of Bengal. Production has also begun in a limited way in some of these areas. In addition to energy resources, the Indian Ocean seabed also has a vast wealth of mineral resources. As pressures on land resources increase, nations are increasingly looking at utilising the resources available to them in the maritime domain, even though there are concerns regarding the commercial viability of their extraction. A significant issue complicating the extraction of seabed resources is determining the extent of the continental shelf over which countries can claim exclusive rights. Increased attention to these issues is another significant emerging trend in the Indian Ocean Region.

More and more attention has been placed on the geopolitics of the Indian Ocean region in recent years. One of the key considerations is maintaining the Indian Ocean as a secure highway for international commerce. Ensuring freedom of navigation, securing its choke points, and reducing piracy are important drivers behind the presence of extra-regional fleets in the Indian Ocean. Given their rapid growth, the fact that China and India are in or are in close proximity to the region is another significant cause of this attention. There is much speculation in the international community about the ambitions of these nations with regard to the Indian Ocean. The intention of both China and India to increase instruments of maritime power is an interesting aspect of great power strategic competition. Much attention is given to the potential tension between Chinese security concerns regarding sea lines of communication in the Indian Ocean, which are critical to its economy, and India’s supposed attitude to this region as its backyard. There is also wariness about China’s relationships with India’s near neighbours, and Indian commentators in particular are concerned about ports funded by China in these countries, which they dub “the string of pearls”.

From Sri Lanka’s perspective, India is our largest neighbour and the most important country in the region. Notwithstanding occasional bilateral issues, our social, cultural, economic and political ties are both historic and robust. At the same time, it has to be noted that Sri Lanka’s relationship with China also dates back many centuries, into historic times. Sri Lanka recognised the People’s Republic of China in 1950 and formal diplomatic relations between the two nations were established in 1957. This bilateral relationship is multi-faceted and deep rooted. There is great mutual trust and friendship between the two nations. China has been one of Sri Lanka’s foremost development partners over the last few years, and Chinese support for many infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka is particularly noteworthy. Chinese support for construction of the Hambantota port was instrumental in fulfilling a longstanding need in Sri Lanka to cater to the shipping lines passing south of the island. However, China’s support for the Hambantota Port is commercial in nature, and should not be misconstrued as fitting the “String of Pearls” paradigm. Sri Lanka has always pursued a non-aligned foreign policy. It continues to provide logistical and other support to ships from all countries at our ports, including naval vessels and even warships that travel through the region. There is no reason for this state of affairs to change in future.

Sri Lanka today is a country in the midst of rapid economic development. After having suffered for three decades of war, there is a great pent up potential in this country that is only now being realised. Channelling this potential and ensuring rapid and equitable growth for all our people is one of the primary concerns of the Government in the present era. It is in this context that Sri Lanka has launched an ambitious “5-hub” growth strategy that aims to position the country as a Naval, Aviation, Commercial, Energy and Knowledge hub in this region. The Naval hub concept seeks to maximise the potential of Sri Lanka’s strategic position at the intersection of major international sea trading routes in the Indian Ocean. The world’s busiest East-West shipping lane lies 10 kilometres to the south of the island. The construction of the Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port at Hambantota creates a facility that can provide services to ships traversing this sea line of communication with minimal delay. The port is being developed in three phases as a state of the art port, and once completed it will provide bunkering services, container handling and ship repair facilities, as well as industrial operations in a large free trade zone. The Colombo Port, which is the country’s principal commercial port, is being expanded. The South Harbour Development has created new container terminals and has enhanced the Colombo Port’s capability to cater to projected growth in volumes and handle the largest ships in the world.

Smaller ports around the country are also being developed. The Oluvil Harbour in the South East is being developed as a hub for fisheries and related industries. The Kankasanthurai Port is being rehabilitated to cater to shipping requirements in the North, including facilitating faster trade with India, Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Galle Port is being developed with new facilities including a yacht marina fully equipped with modern amenities, yacht repair and maintenance facilities, tourist information centre, hotels, floating restaurants, and duty free shops. This will cater to the growing interest of tourists arriving aboard cruise ships and private yachts to this historic and compact coastal city. The Trincomalee Port, which is the largest natural harbour in South Asia and fifth largest in the world, was critical to the operations of the Royal Navy of Britain and the Dutch Navy after the fall of Singapore during the Second World War. The development of Trincomalee was greatly hindered for three decades during the terrorist war in Sri Lanka, but the Government is now transforming it into a metropolitan growth centre for North Eastern Sri Lanka. New port infrastructure will be established, including shipbuilding & repair facilities and bunkering & ship services. As with Galle, more tourist facilities are also being developed in Trincomalee.

Sri Lanka has many advantages when it comes to tourism. The country is being increasingly featured in global travel magazines and websites as one of the best destinations in the world to visit. The sheer variety of the experiences it can offer is key to its rising popularity. Quite apart from its impressive historic sites, its many cultural features and its beautiful natural terrain, Sri Lanka offers a host of tourist attractions in the maritime domain. Whales and dolphins can be seen off the Western, Southern and Eastern coasts at various times of the year. Some of the sites available for surfing in the Eastern and Southern coasts are amongst the most attractive in the region. Sailing and parasailing are becoming more and more popular. Sri Lanka’s beaches are also amongst the most relaxed and laid-back in the world. There are beautiful coral reefs with great biodiversity off the coasts, and there are countless other natural features and shipwrecks that are fantastic locations for scuba diving. There is more to be done to further develop and protect these maritime and related attractions, but many tens of thousands of tourists already visit Sri Lanka because of them.

At this critical point in its history, Sri Lanka is keen to attract many more foreign visitors to this country for tourism as well as commercial purposes. There are countless opportunities for investment in a variety of areas, which are being further developed through the 5-hub centred growth strategy adopted by the Government. Sri Lanka emerged from the ravages of a brutal three decades long terrorist conflict less than five years ago. It has made tremendous progress in all areas, which has to be seen to be believed. As it builds on this success to develop further, Sri Lanka needs the support of its friends instead of the criticism and admonishment that seems to feature large on the agenda of certain nations that seek to dwell continually on the past. This is not constructive. Instead, meaningful economic cooperation and the strengthening of genuine diplomatic relationships with its allies is what Sri Lanka seeks. This is precisely what Sri Lanka’s closest allies today readily offer, which is something the entire country is greatly appreciative of.

It is in this context of genuine cooperation and strengthening relationships that events such as the Galle Dialogue are organised. The overall security and stability of the entire Indian Ocean region is critical for the global economy, and Sri Lanka is proud to play its part by fulfilling its responsibilities in its maritime domain. At the same time, fostering greater cooperation and partnership amongst the naval powers active in the region is necessary to support the future prosperity of the Indian Ocean region. I am certain that the presentations, panel discussions and informal interactions that will take place during the Galle Dialogue will be instrumental in this regard. In closing, I wish all participants a very productive and very pleasant time at this conference, and during your stay in Sri Lanka.

Thank you.

*Full Text of the speech delivered by Secretary to the Ministry of Defence at the 2013 GALLE DIALOGUE Emerging Maritime Trends in the Indian Ocean on 25th November 2013 at the Lighthouse Hotel in Galle

Latest comments

  • 16
    5

    Thought you guys pleaded for supported and promised 13 A +++ ?

    Do you think India is run by a family that you can fool around with ?

    • 2
      2

      Why the hell you bloody Terrorists did not accept 13A in 1987 ??only now

      • 5
        0

        Terrorists are not interested in the words of the Mahawamse Maha Terrorists.

      • 2
        1

        `Gooo`ta “Booo”tha space between the ears?(’-’*)is in his elements

        licking the backside of Indians like his half brother

        Mara kelaniya Kudu Silva just to kick ass back at his own people and feather his family nest of reptiles.

        0:3

        • 0
          1

          Javi chooo.Javi gooo!Bog Bok Hoooo!Yaman Bando Ealam balanna!

          • 1
            0

            Kudu Max{imum} Volume.

            So mervin is your half brother after that one night that makes even a leper like you squeak and hide. Stop crying and viper that nose.

            • 0
              2

              Javi gooo,Javi gooo,whats this one night stand you are talking?Oh! Javi,that Ugandan bloke was full of praise for the job you performed.Those magical fingers of yours!Right through that deep black hole!Don’t wash those magical fingers.Keep on dreaming of Ealam!A bloody clown!How sad that that wonderful human being VP left us so early!Lets get thus Gota!
              Javi choo Javi gooo.Hik hik hik!
              Javi,here’s Laltha’s smelly undies.Wipe your bloody crocodile tears!

        • 0
          2

          Gooota booo.Licking booo!Javi i am with you.By any chance if i meet this Gooota Booo.i will teach him a damn good lesson.Bumping off that wonderful human being Prabakaran is the mother of all crimes!Not only that.Lets get the war criminal Rajapakse to face our Kangaroo court.Madam Kishali,Madam Dharshika,Madam Nimalka,Madam Thisaranee,Sir Paki,Sir Laksiri,will be the judges!
          Of course Javi will be in the jury.
          Javi,i hope you are happy.Keep on dreaming.Never trust Max.Who knows Max might beat the living day lights out of the judges.Gooo Gooo Gooo choo choo choo.
          Javi i am with you as long as you clean my backside.Oh!god those magical fingers of yours!

          • 0
            0

            “|”Madam Kishali,Madam Dharshika,Madam Nimalka,Madam Thisaranee,Sir Paki,Sir Laksiri,will be the judges! Of course Javi will be in the jury. Javi,i hope you are happy”|”
            ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

            So the tainted mums milk is on purgative drive. TN are the worlds largest exporters of SENNA recommended by our partners the CPC Beijing.

            Just try hiding those rhubarb patches its BSE much more potent than bird fle.

            Gota `Gooo`ta “Boo”-ts “Booo”tha space between the ears?(’-’*)
            0:3

      • 0
        0

        A fairly well prepared address for a politically inflicted Government official of the current regime, widely seen as the most powerful and unyielding voice in the current administration. The occupation of his high office by Mr. Gotabaya Rajapakse is widely viewed as illegal and one further example the Rajapakse regime cares tuppence to established governance rules or the Constitution. It is one of the most sensitive positions in State service – usually the preserve of senior State officials completing decades of distinguished service.

        An otherwise carefully thought of piece breaches unwisely and unnecessarily into global power politics, when GR arrogantly states “still impacted by the after shocks of American intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan” The powerful USA, whose goodwill and support the brothers will need in the coming months, cannot be expected to take this slight lightly. It was not the USA alone that went into these two countries is something the speech-writer should have given thought of. Why and how justified is something the Americans are in record many a times and many a fora which contemporary historians have taken note of.

        Much of what is designed to be critical of the LTTE to capture the imagination of the audience in this speech may end up in their minds as compliments to the LTTEs efficiency and sensational emergence as a military and naval power – in spite of being a non-state player.

        Human smuggling is an area where the names of VVIPs in the regime are being mentioned – even by Sinhalese who leave in fair numbers regularly in search more of safety than economic advantages. It is understood many international agencies and governments have taken note of the names of these men who have made this into a lucrative and regular multi-million dollar “business”

        As to smuggling of narcotics in the seas and otherwise it is an open secret it is men favoured by the State – and active participants in it – are the main players believed to be with the knowledge of the government. Those who are active in it are going about their “business” in the safe thought they will not be touched by the Customs, the army, navy and the Police.

        The issue of poaching by Indian fishermen and trawlers – that places our own Northern fishermen at a distinct disadvantage after fishing was open to them post-war – is an issue that requires managerial skill to overcome. Mere combative rhetoric and placing this in the hands of fishermen on both sides may not bring a formulae for settlement. What needs to be accepted is the fact the much larger number of fishermen in the Tamilnadu side who frequented a much larger area in their seas for generations had their own prospects reduced by the coming of the IMBL in recent times. As one senior diplomat said “clearly fish don’t know about IMBL” It is time for a professional approach with the aid of learned experts on both sides to step in. This is the best way to silence Jayalalitha, Karunanidhi and others who are quite a thorn to the Rajapakse regime.

        In his predictable nature Mr. Rajapakse dares the controversial area of using undiplomatic language as he warns “terrorists will be crushed” He little realises the other side and indeed many governments have accused the Lankan armed forces of organised “terrorism” by the State much of it designed to make money at the expense of Tamil civilians.

        The speaker also goes to lengths in praising the ancient links between China and Sri Lanka, which is more akin to trying to reinvent the wheel. This is all well known. But in the event of natural calamities and even those man-made – and we have had many of them in recent times – it is not far away China that comes to our aid.

        At last it is good to hear from this Sinhala hardline nationalist he desires “robust” relations with India – one more rational statement in this address.

        Pandaranayagam

    • 2
      0

      No, India is a strategic country even prepared to arm separatists in neighboring countries if it suits their needs, not like our donkeys who listen to foreigners first and look at the country’s needs second.

      • 0
        0

        You are an Idiot.

        What Sri Lanka has is exact, and in every way, Indian Model.

    • 1
      0

      Kiri Yakka :-:………………………………………………………………”Do you think India is run by a family that you can fool around with?”…
      ………………………………………………………………. Worse, India is run by Hindian bureaucrats, each one of them believes he/she is far superior to Artha Shasthri Chanakya.

      • 3
        1

        But we have Goata and Merwin nobody can match them. simple brilliant Karuna can help too

        • 1
          2

          Karuna should have been appointed the governor of Northern province.

    • 2
      0

      India is run by a Italian woman who naturalized in India.

  • 2
    1

    “……..a very positive indication of Sri Lanka’s increasing stature in international affairs”

    This man is hallucinating!

    Whom is he trying to fool?

  • 1
    5

    Sir,
    This is valuable information!!! Our Navy brothers and sisters have the mental and physical ability to do this job correctly. Our Navy is disciplined to the core!!!! so its easy for them to dominate in this region!!!
    Good luck and sir, you are one of my heroes!!!

    • 2
      0

      Please tell them to wear good under pants. they have to protect their brain. In case something happens to them. Please salute your hero – there is no one like him in the whole world a rare gem one of the triple gem. Merwin and Karuna the other ones

      • 1
        1

        This “Email” is an appointed asslicker for that family…

    • 1
      2

      Yes, SL NAVY did an excellent job during the war. Without proper discipline they could not had done that.

  • 0
    1

    Please ignore “KIRI YAKA, as he is mentally retarded!!!!there are alot of that kind here!!!But

    • 1
      0

      Get the facts straight before attacking anyone here.
      May be you are the pissu guy here not to grasp the least.

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    BUT YOU WILL FORGIVE HIM AS YOU ARE A DISCIPLINE OFFICER!!!

    • 0
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      You look like you’re going to the dogs?

      ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

      No bastard won a war by dying for his country but by killing the other bastard- the booming voice of GP.

      ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
      Discipline! Ho ho! India is going to kill something after the equinox.

      Go reinforce your amude pronto from electric chair not on eek eek-mail.

      ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
      Hanuman ki Jai

  • 2
    2

    Can Gota tell the public how he got USA green card. Basicaly what story and the reason for him leave Srilanka.

    People of Srilanka will be shocked to know what he told about Mother Lanka..

    One of the USA news reporter got a copy of the document Gota gave it to USA immigration signed by him..

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      Where do you live idiot? Cannot be the US.

      • 0
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        Down south fishing village,

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    An International Investigation into Matale mass grave is urgently needed to fix this mass murderer from killing more and more people.

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      Those days, the whole western world would have given even nuclear weapons to defeat Communist – rebels.

      If JVP had blood money – for propaganda and to pay for educated coolies – as LTTE rump have, they also would scream about war crimes for eliminating the mass murderers.

    • 0
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      Thiru

      Matale mass graves are miniscule compared to this war criminals achievements at Mullivaikkal . If matale graves only have hundreds of skeletal remains , At Mullivaikkal Gota killed 60 thousand Tamils it deserves a record of some sorts. The punishment must also be according to the just deserts theory. Even a death sentence to this bastard is too lenient.

      Let us Tamils get our acts together. He should be dispatched to hell very soon.Sathyameva jayade!

  • 1
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    Gota made fine points on behalf of Sri Lankan people. Indian is nor only our ancestor land but our cultural counterpart.

    Vande Mataram!

    • 0
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      NO wonder. A very good friend of Goata are you Buffella

      • 0
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        You are a Tamil donkey and worship a grade seven drop out Prabakaran and another saloon sweeper Tamilselvan as your heroes. It is hard for you to understand politics.

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      “|”Vande Mataram!”|” Mantaryat naha palyan yako.


      Porriki passan! you got a rocker fart that has tickled your balls!!

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    Who invited him, and on what capacity? as the DS or coz he is the brother of the President? either way, he shouldn’t have been invited unless those who did so are his henchmen… Why is he involving himself other than that of the job DS I wonder…. Don’t we have eminent speakers who could READ WHAT IS WRITTEN by PAID speech writers? Why oes a meeting of this magnitude be CEREMONIALLY opened by the DS? Is he seeking popularity among the masses, so that he can topple the sibling? Well , anyways DS calls the shots, is what we all know… Would be interesting to see an Army coup happen to see where the Rajapaksa clan would run to… St. Marino may be?

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    @Kiriya — india is run by even worse….they are getting ready for election and looks like current gov is done with.

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    Floating restaurants in Galle Harbour

    My fellow Gallian Ms Serasinghe , even would be proud of this.

    Cosmopolitan Intelligentsia and its current Leadership will be struggling to match this performance.

    Wonder whether the Reps of Cameron and Harper sat through this speech !!!!!

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    Ghost preaching..

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    Dear Kiri Yakka,

    Thought you guys pleaded for supported and promised 13 A

    What the hell is this 13 A and +/- ya? Its like trying to upgrade to Windows 3.1 isnt it? This is too old son. The next amendment number is 19. The Parliment patiently awaits particiapation of everyone for the next major upgrade to a proper 64-bit version.

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    Man that proved to be NOT diplomatic enough is delivering the keynote address at the opening session of the fourth annual “Galle Dialogue”. On behalf of the Government. Especially in terms of India ????

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    With the way our Navy, this government dealing with Indian fishermen, very soon thousands of them would be crawling around Kandy lake in their trawlers and fishing boats, and nets. Just big talk here reading out script writers work. Actors do this.

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    I am sure that the defeated Tamil terrorists will have a field day attacking Gotta.Can’t blame them.If not for Gotta the defeated Tamil terrorists’ killing machine would have been in full swing.Oh!you poor defeated Tamil terrorists.Now that your killing machine has been destroyed attack Gota,and try to be happy.A bloody set of born losers!

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      MAD Max, I thought you were behind bars in Angoda??

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        You thought?Go on thinking.A bloody idiot.Dream dream!

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        You are right the male prostitute Sevela Silbaaa has returned from the sojourn. It’s his poor breed.

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    GOTA is a Fake guy whom will get caught with India trying to fool.

    • 0
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      Yes Gotta is fake.Try us again.Next time it will be master of fakes.

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    A long and rambling address, part history lesson, part travelogue, part tourist blurb, part business pitch. Our Gota covered all bases; how many understood all he said? How many stayed awake for the whole speech? If they did, did they detect Gota’s veiled move to become King of the Indian Ocean?

    • 0
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      `Gooo`ta, the forbidden fruit from the Garden of Eden wants to make Lanka the centre for `blood money` from SARC (deyo saake) like the Swiss were for the Nazis.

  • 1
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    Goata please tell us who wrote this. We wont tell any one ok? o you know where India is? or what India is? Lets see how you go….

    • 0
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      Good question. The writer cannot be from Lanka Liar Clan. GR gets daily reports from NIB and he is well informed before LL gets up from the bed. In a way LL’s approach is also good because strategic planning needs devil’s advocates.

  • 1
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    This is clearly written by a terrorism expert – without any consideration as to who India thinks as terrorist now.

    Poor advise swallowed whole heartedly. The white man’s fear of Terrorism is not shared by all. It comes in different flavours. But some incompetent advisor do not know the difference. When they talk about terrorism in Sri Lanka now – they are looking at a completely different spot.

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    Goata LTTE ate rice. That would have inspired the whole Sri Lanka to eat rice. Sri Lanka kidnapp people all the kidnappers in the world are copying Sri Lankan. Sri Lanka lies but no one in the world can match them in lying. Sri Lankan army rapes all the rapist in the world are inspired by them.

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      Yes anymore violence,we will do double kidnapping.You think that this is some kind of tea party?We don’t rape.Know why?They are after us.Issipriya,oh!she is some chick.But the best is MIA.She does wonders with her fingers!

      • 1
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        Max silva when did you last have [Edited out] ? according to your ancient Mahavansa tradition you are a semi animal being. [Edited out] your language and insensitivity clearly demonstrate that you are even capable of
        [Edited out].

        You pathetic Sinhala [Edited out] can’t expect us Tamils a civilised race of people to live as part of one country. To adapt Lincoln’s words a nation that is half human and half animal will not endure.

  • 0
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    Kothapaya talking BS.

    India is our biggest enemy.

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      Fathima do us all a favour. Next time you see Gota, please say what you wrote here to his face. Starting the next day, we will not see your BS comments.

    • 0
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      Fathima Fukushima………………………………………………..

      So what? Don’t forget LTTE kicked the IPKF backed to where they belonged to… Now Gota has his own battle hardened LTTE, if a need arose he wouldn’t mind reviving it again.

      • 0
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        Fathima Fukushima
        December 1, 2013 at 12:52 pm
        Search in site…
        ‘Anti-13 A’ And ‘Anti-Indian’ Gota’s India Visit Kept Under Wraps By Both Governments
        Reply|””Kothapaya seems to be the only sane person in SL. All other leaders are pro Indian pieces of excreta. Kothapaya for Presidency! Kothapaya for Presidency! Kothapaya for Presidency!

        Fuckshit Fuckmussy Hijab Baaa baa.
        0:3

  • 1
    1

    Did the Hon MP Mr Sira of the Vellala Party make his Marveerar speech praising his late Leader Mr Prabakaran after the Def Sec addressed the Naval Chiefs of the 55 countries,including our friendly guardians Cameron’s and Harper’s?.

    • 0
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      Sumana your [Edited out] with Vellala caste is once again manifesting it’s ugly head. Machang! Please lay off this subject and be an intelligent being.

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    The Indian Ocean is the Indian Sea. They have three aircraft carriers to ensure it remains that way. They also have Andaman Islands strategically guarding the Malacca Straits. Kothapayam has fear in his eyes. If he does not toe the Indian line, the Indians will get him. No point thumping the China card. The Chinese will know which side they must turn to when presented with the new US-India-Iran-ASEAN-Japan axis. They have got China well sewn up. They will probably ensure that the Rajapakses are slowly eased out in good time. China will not bat an eyelid. Things are not going well for them in the East or the South China Seas.

    Anyway, wonder who wrote all this for the illiterate buffoon.

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      kabaragoya:-:…………………………………………………… …. Indian Ocean is not India’s ocean, according to Chinese analysts.

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        True Native of Sri Lanka, whatever Chinese say, they do not have a port in the Indian Ocean. They seek one in Hawdar, Hambantota and Myanmar but apart from Hawdar in Pakistan, their control of other ports are illusory. China does not yet have a powerful navy. Myanmar will soon move closer to the US and India. Hambantota is a white elephant. So, the Indian Ocean is still India’s lake. India sticks into it like a fist. Sri Lanka simple has to live with it. So wise one, I think we just should make peace with the Indians.

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    gotta the dog . your days are counting and the entire family will be burn to the ground

    • 0
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      asim akbaar

      Don’t be silly.

    • 0
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      akbarr, Without counting the days as a pig here go to saudi take lessons on wahhabism and be a jihadi. That’s the quickest way to Allah’s heaven where you can screw both men and women.

    • 0
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      You could not have answered more honestly or better to the `void between the ears` `Gooo`ta, `Booo`ts – Die, Die.
      It’s because skunk responded pleasing and pleasing that the `mother of all stepfathers VP` institutionally (political scientist, grass roots politicos all advisers) made folk into `diced meat` for 30 years.
      They all suck us up worshiping the dead- reddha hittan Goo fuckshiting the living like VP relaxing in his private pool.

    • 0
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      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGtf9idyT-4 RR

      Benga, ha ha sim! you are going to like this

  • 1
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    Asim,

    Please do not use foul language. We are discussing here the difference in perception. Hon. Gotta has expressed his. Better to point out its miss match with reality than to start cursing.

    Any immigration counter any where in the world will give you a good idea of what the world thinks of us. Do they care about the differences amongst us blood thirsty lot ?

    Dam those Aussie patrol boats. Else every one will be talking the first boat out. So the Navy has a role to address the fear of the International Community of hordes arriving in their shores. This Terrorism talk is just off that bat – that is all.

  • 0
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    Where is our great Snowdon Asange – man with a severe inferiority complex.
    Is he hiding in his deep well? (Perhaps being a frog in a deep well makes him comfortable)

  • 0
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    chingala modaya gothapeea listen, shit lanka is the most important pariah cuntry in south asia.

    • 0
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      Rama you are not right when you say that Srilanka is the worst Pariah. Country in south Asia . It would be right if you had said in the entire world.

  • 0
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    Gota is a military genius and defeated the LTTE. So, he knows very well about the Indian assistance and the politics of India.

    So, donkeys stop your harangues!

    • 1
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      M.Sivananthan……………………………………………………

      “Gota is a military genius and defeated the LTTE.”

      However, military strategy, training, satellite intelligence, massive loans, political cover, pacification of Tamilnadu protests, sea lane protection, ……………etc, etc, etc, were provided by Hindians. Gota as well as MR acknowledged this in their numerous interviews to media.

      You are not being sarcastic, are you?

    • 0
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      “|”So, he knows very well about the Indian assistance and the politics of India.”|”
      ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
      Yes he knows the Deleee `Alu Porats` wearing the Italian nickers on their head and in GRAFT. Dersa chupuke mutal porrki!
      ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

      `Siva`ji the great Maharashtrian has his blood embedded in Tamil Nadu Tanjavor too- Thats Mr Clean’s Narendra’s blood line of training- kallathoni troll living in Canada. Her Majesty wont puke for `Gooo`ta to get a royal pardon.

      ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 0:3

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      why changing colors often faster than chameleons? Was n’t the same gota who cursed India just before an elections for provinces?

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      M . Sivanathan : Hi mukkal is your other name far tima fuckshima? You seemed to change your thoppy all the time. One day you are pro Tamil the next day pro Srilankan / Sinhalese. You are living up to your ethnic identity of a thoppy piraddy .

  • 3
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    I can’t imagine that a guy who worked for seven11 in the US can make such a well created speech.
    In future I will have the greatest regard for anyone who works for seven11.

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