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Boost for Indo-Lanka ties

The recent Indo-Lanka joint naval exercise off Sri Lanka's Western coast marked a high water mark in security cooperation between the South Asian neighbours, who have for quite some time now been charting a warm and friendly course in inter-state relations.

As should be expected, a steady warming of Indo-Lanka relations has been registered since President Kumaratunga came to power ten years ago. Her presence in government which is a highly positive factor in current Indo-Lanka relations has contributed greatly towards their steady consolidation.

Meanwhile, increasing cooperation between the countries in the security field would benefit both states which are in the process of framing a defence cooperation agreement. Given India's stature in this region and the clout she carries internationally, Lanka's security needs would be served substantially through stepped-up defence cooperation between this country and India.

While Sri Lanka should never be in a subordinate position in security cooperation arrangements of this kind, there is no denying that Sri Lanka should act consensually with her bigger neighbour if her security needs are to be served adequately and effectively.

In other words, Sri Lanka and her neighbours need to be acutely sensitive to each others security needs if a cooperative international climate is to be established in the South Asian region. Thus, joint naval exercises between India and Lanka could strengthen the bonds of friendship between the countries and put security cooperation between the states on a firmer footing.

We need hardly say that illegal arms smuggling in the waters between India and Sri Lanka has even been a major issue in Lankan politics. Over the past three years in particular, we have had occasion to see how the arms smuggling issue has impacted negatively on the Lankan peace process. Curtailing such gun-running could improve our peace prospects and stepped-up Indo-Lanka naval cooperation is one of the keys to containing this dangerous trend.

Besides, a bigger Indo-Lanka naval presence on our adjacent seas would play a significant role in curtailing hard drug smuggling to Sri Lanka and also have a dampening effect on sea piracy, arms smuggling and other illegal activities. Thus Sri Lanka stands to gain on a number of fronts by strengthening her cooperative links with India.

However, opinion in Sri Lanka in particular should guard against misinterpreting the nature of these cooperative links with India. The strengthening of such ties, for instance, shouldn't give rise to the impression that local efforts towards negotiating an end to our ethnic conflict could slacken. Nothing could be more misleading. Sri Lanka wouldn't have peace until the Lankan parties to the conflict resolve the problem by themselves.

There is no disputing this truth. Complacency on any score could be one of our worst enemies. In fact, strengthened security cooperation with India should be considered a fillip to a more vigorous search for peace.

The smell of power

The suspension of sittings in Parliament is so frequent these days that it hardly attracts any interest. However a five minute suspension of the House at the end of the Budget debate on the last sitting day for the year literally made waves.

This was not a routine suspension precipitated by MPs' misconduct. A foul odour that swept through the hallowed portals of the August Assembly forced the Speaker to suspend proceedings.

There were several suspensions leading to the final one. The air was thick with the heat of debate. Some would say it is a cleansing act - the poisons leaving the belly of Parliament at year end for a refreshing beginning in the new year. But the source of the stench could not be traced.

We are yet to have live telecasts of Parliament proceedings so that Lankans could get a close up of the antics of their representatives. Members' conduct in the August Assembly is only too well known. The people know that covered by privilege it is open sesame for their representatives to indulge in the best of Billingsgate.

It is already well known how the bovine and the canine species are regularly invoked by Members during an uproar. The public would also consider the moment when the fetid air grows thick during a lull in the House when invective is exchanged as MPs are left to their own devices. The public would no doubt be compelled to think this was an accumulated stink balled up for years in some corner of the Chamber.

Amidst the "stink" episode in Sri Lanka's Parliament comes the news of India's Upper and Lower House of Parliament launching two channels to bring live coverage of Parliament proceedings to 200 million viewers. The Indian Speaker believes it would make his charges "more alert and accountable to the public and make debates more purposeful and meaningful". This is the Indian Government's response to the frequent disruptions by unruly lawmakers opting for siesta over debate. Shades of the Sri Lanka Parliament one may say.

Similar arguments for live Parliament debates had been mooted here as well. Whether this will have the desired effect is anybody's guess. Politicians being good actors would certainly like to give out their repertoire if they know there is a larger audience.

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