Sri Lanka’s strategy in the region and the world was terrible
The meeting. Pic by Eshan Fernando
While the world is going through an unprecedented level of events, conflicts, geo-political trade wars and so on strategically planned by powerful nations, it’s unfortunate that
Sri Lanka seems out of the world. Sri Lanka’s strategy in the region and the world is terrible and the country’s policy view in the region and the world was very limited till recently.
Dr. Harinda Vidanage, Director International Relations and Director, Centre for Strategic Assessment, Kotelawala Defence University made these remarks during the Sunday Times Business Club (STBC) meeting held last week. The title of the discussion was ‘Sri Lanka in a troubled world order: Red Sea crisis in shipping’. The sponsors were Movenpick, the host hotel, and NDB.
“Knowing the conflicts happening around the world, unfortunately Sri Lanka’s strategy in the region and the world was terrible. Sri Lanka’s policy view of the region and the world was very limited till recently. Sri Lanka was having an internal conflict and the international engagement was focused on it. Immediately after that period we had missed all the regional and the global changes and transitions, especially the fact that our region is now emerging as the most geopolitically contested region in the world,” he said.
He also reiterated, “We are no longer South Asians. The word ‘South Asian’ is missing with India playing a bigger role in the region. We were South Asians as long as India was comfortable with the fact that we are in their perimeter of influence. Now India is no longer concerned about South Asia, but call it the Indian Ocean grid. That is why we have a resuscitated Indian Ocean Rim Association which is going to be the largest apex body of Regional Corporation. America has maximised this further by calling it as the Indo Pacific Strategy creating two ocean systems and merging it to one strategic region. We are now fixed into an emerging strategic calculus that will be made on the Indo Pacific Calculus. Every country is now coming up with the Indo Pacific Strategy. Trade and security focus will be achieved through the Indo Pacific Strategy.”
The other speaker, Shippers’ Academy Colombo, CEO, Rohan Masakorala highlighted that 17,000 ships go through the Suez Canal each year, which implies that 12 per cent of annual global trade passes through the Red Sea.
“The Red Sea crisis has impacted globally. Extra 20 days delays up and down with knock on effect to other trade lanes. Additional fuel cost of around US$1 million per voyage. Schedule and frequency disruptions on ports. Increased operational costs. Congestion in ports. Equipment and seafarers stuck on board and vessels deployment. Impact on refrigerated cargo. Retail and manufacturing supply chain disruption will pass on the cost to consumers.”
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