A tense visit

SRI Lanka’s relations with India have a history of fluctuation, but the latest visit kicked off by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday comes amidst strained relations with Tamil Nadu and a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) mission, setting the stage for an interesting interaction.

Rajapaksa is scheduled to meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (20) to discuss relations between the two countries. This will be the first meeting between the two parties after India voted in favour of a US-backed resolution on Sri Lanka’s reconciliation process at the UNHRC sessions in March. Singh is also to host a reception for Rajapaksa ahead of the foundation stone laying ceremony of a Buddhist university in the historically important city of Sanchi in Madya Pradesh.

However, the visit came under a cloud after 184 pilgrims were attacked in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu two weeks ago and had to return on a special plane chartered by Rajapaksa. In response, the Sri Lankan Government issued a travel advisory on Tamil Nadu, which is still in force, but insisted that their cooperation with the Indian Central Government would continue.

Under the travel advisory, all Sri Lankans have to inform the Chennai Embassy of their travel plans, which resulted in tourist numbers reducing drastically. In fact, Indian media reports noted that as much as 60 percent of business for travel companies had dropped after the Government warning, with budget carriers Mihin Airlines and Spicejet as well as national carrier SriLankan bearing the brunt of the lost business.

The situation is made tenser by Indian politicians critical of the Sri Lankan Government planning protests and black flag demonstrations during Rajapaksa’s visit. Pro-LTTE Tamil Party MDMK Leader Vaiko and his supporters have left Tamil Nadu in a convoy of buses to stage a black flag demonstration in Sanchi against the Sri Lankan President’s visit. Despite assurances by the Central Government that sufficient security is in place, it is likely that demonstrations will intensify debate over the President’s visit.

On Tuesday a man who attempted self-immolation to protest Rajapaksa’s visit died in Tamil Nadu, giving a warning signal to the strength of the protest movement. The 26-year-old trishaw driver has become the latest focal point for the anti-Sri Lankan Government camp, which might put more pressure on the Central Indian Government.

The silver lining in this situation is provided by a 45-member trade delegation consisting of the executive members of the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industries (TNCCI) in Madurai that is arriving on Thursday to explore ways to improve trade relations between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu.

The TNCCI delegation will arrive in Colombo on board the first international flight of the budget carrier Spice Jet that will start services between Madurai and Colombo on 20 September. The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has said that the visit is aimed at enhancing bilateral trade relations and may be the much-needed bridge between the long-estranged parties.

The other positive points are provided by the UNHCR team that could well encapsulate a positive impression of post-war progress and the Indian Government’s attempt to take a moderate line in dealing with sensitive issues with its counterpart. Such a setting will undoubtedly generate much interest in the next few days.