by Anura Guruge
on April 26, 2024

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This can’t be good. China already has a 99-year lease on deep-sea HARBOR nearby. Then, {as I reported} folks talk about ‘Russian Enclaves‘ in Sri Lanka. Now this. So, now China, India & Russia — a rather curious trinity — legally have footholds in Sri Lanka, controlling ports to boot.

Some of this {maybe much of it} probably has to do with the rampant corruption in the upper echelons of the government. Sri Lanka has been plagued by corruption & mismanagement for at least the last 50 years — & they have only been independent (from the British) for 76-years. I don’t think it was always the case. I think the first batch of leaders we had, straight after Independence {i.e., the ones I were personally familiar with}, weren’t totally corrupt. From what I could see {& I had quite a good & privileged vantage} they genuinely cared. They wanted to make something of the much sought Independence.

I could be wrong, but I think the corruption crept in during the late 1960s.

I, obviously, have no skin in this game. I gave up my Sri Lankan citizenship in 1983. I haven’t been back since 1992. So, this is all kind of academic. Historic.

I think China should TAKEOVER Sri Lanka. They own much of the Sri Lankan debt. Sri Lankans aren’t doing a very good job taking care of their country.