Sri Lanka is apparently getting sucked into a debt trap. This is the war drum that has been beating since the Rajapaksa administration. The massive development projects undertaken by that administration has supposedly resulted in this situation. Though the administrations changed, the war drum continues not only to beat, but beat faster. Yet, the greater cause for concern is the regime changers’ reaction to the ever worsening situation in Sri Lanka.

Both U.S. and India openly gloated that they were behind the toppling of the Rajapaksa administration and installing the present Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration. They wanted to restore democracy in Sri Lanka and hence their efforts. Obviously, the very fact that their interference contradicts the very notion of democracy is a moot point. By design, the genuine opposition is ostracized and instead, a party representing only the Tamils in just the northern and eastern provinces, obviously with very few seats in the Parliament is recognized as the official opposition. Again, this architecture to relegate the opposition to just a pretty face in a bid to restore democracy is very curious.

After installing this administration, these two powers stood by and watched them make the mess they identified as a debt trap messier. Coming to power after raising heckles over the finances, this government increased its spending by eye-brow raising implementations as hiking the government sector salaries, and reduced its income by cutting taxes especially from fuel prices. Believing the projects embarked by the previous administration to be embroiled with corruption, all were put on hold without any verification. This instantly sent a shiver down all investors’ spine. Taking IMF advice, the rupee was allowed to free fall. The rupee has since depreciated by more than Rs. 20 and while its benefits are yet to be seen, servicing loans has become even more difficult. For instance, as noted in this column on 19 December 2016, Sri Lanka Ports Authority alone incurred a loss of 18 billion rupees due to this depreciation.

As support, India gave a few short term loans to plug in the hole, but of course that worsened the situation. The U.S.-led West included the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe duo to some functions in their white-boys’ club. There, they made polite conversation with Ranil Wickremesinghe and patted Maithripala Sirisena’s on the back, and even the Queen herself offered a gloveless handshake to him. These were all considered major breakthroughs in forging strong international relations and the government glowed with gratification.

However, as leaders of this country, the administrators realized in time that there is a difference between moral support and financial support. As bills accumulated they began to appreciate the importance of China, who they have been mooning for many months since coming to power.

Thus, they made a sharp U-turn and have started to shamelessly genuflect to the Chinese. As the Chinese in turn are capitalizing on our abject humbling realization, Sri Lankans are wondering how the regime changers are absorbing it. After all, India and the U.S.-led West got together not only to restore democracy for us, but also to save us from becoming a Chinese colony. For world peace, they need to contain China and thwart its plans for asserting its dominance in Asia. Hence, diluting its influence and presence in Sri Lanka is perceived crucial.

Thus, there are much speculations which port – Trincomalee or Colombo – Indians would demand in appeasement for the Magampura Port the Chinese got for a song. We cannot even begin to fathom Trump’s possible reaction to the Chinese hoisting its flag right in the middle of the most strategic shipping routes in the Indian Ocean.

Interestingly, both quarters are eerily silent. While studiously ignoring the Magampura Port development, U.S. seems intent on sticking to the original course and that is strengthening our democracy as was exposed by Shamindra Ferdinando from The Island.

On 1 January 2017, he highlighted that the Government of Sri Lanka has accepted the services of U.S. company, Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) to reform our public sector to strengthen democracy. It is really not clear at this point whether GOSL asked for this support or it was offered first by U.S., which we accepted. Either way, a parliamentary delegation led by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had signed this agreement in Washington last September.

This Strengthening Democratic Governance and Accountability Project (SDGAP) is allocated USD 13 million. Again, it is not clear who is financing this project. Obviously, Sri Lanka is not in a position to fund this project. This means the bill most probably falls on the American taxpayer. Then arises the question, what do we have to pay in return.

Dr. Kamal Wickremasighe’s ‘Development Alternatives Inc. to the aid of a hapless non-government’ offers the chilling answer. DAI is a CIA-fronted organization. Their actual function is to fund “opposition parties and other pro-American groups in countries of strategic interest, using the pretext of ‘promoting democracy'”. Their aim is “deep infiltration of civil society groups (NGOs) for use in their subversive activities including regime change in strategically important nations with governments unwilling to succumb to U.S. dictates.”

This fact was exposed by none other than a former CIA officer, Philip Agee and proved by the arrest of DAI employee Alan Gross in Havana, Cuba in December 2009. During his trial it was revealed that he was distributing communication equipment to counter-revolutionary groups working to promote U.S. agenda in Cuba. He was found guilty of ‘acts against the independence or the territorial integrity of the State of Cuba’ and sentenced to 15 years in prison. The following year, he sued the U.S. Government for USD 60 million for its failure to train him better for the work. DAI settled the lawsuit after agreeing to pay an undisclosed sum.

Then comes the question as to why this government had invited (or accepted) DAI to increase transparency and accountability, advance good governance reforms, and strengthen systems and processes for public accountability, financial management, policy development and implementation, supports the government to strengthen communication with citizens, include the public in policy-making, and increase the participation of women in political processes, as highlighted by Ferdinando. Their areas of concern is the very machinery of the government and its workings. Is it ignorance and blind faith on the part of our government or for a guarantee for another term in office?

In the meantime, it is nearly six months since the emergency paramedics ambulance service was launched. This is a gift from India. Besides the technical assistance, training of 250 paramedics, 250 ambulance drivers with pre-hospital care ambulances, USD 6.7 million had been granted.

Many had sounded the alarm that this is a Research and Analysis Wing project. The government disagrees and has asked the people to see this project as a much needed facility to save lives as well as a project that generates jobs. However, it has been pointed out that as an emergency service vehicle, it can go anywhere in Sri Lanka without been challenged, carrying what ever and who ever in the vehicle.

With almost all 500 jobs already filled with locals, it is hard to visualize the danger. Certainly, there does not seem to be any Indians lurking about much less the RAW agents.

Yet, this should not be dismissed out of hand just because the Indian presence cannot be discerned. Harsha de Silva is grateful to Narendra Modi for granting USD 6.7 million, which according to him, India is not expecting back. However, to think that India is not expecting any return for its money is extremely naive. It is especially so given India’s unhealthy interest in Sri Lankan internal politics and its history of 30 years to destabilize the country using the most macabre means. Not only India has remained unapologetic for its role, it had the audacity to partner in the resolutions against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council since the successful conclusion of terrorism.

During this 30 years of terrorism, it was only during the relatively short period of the Indian Peace Keeping Force’s stay in Sri Lanka that Indian nationals came with their guns to Sri Lanka. At all other times, India used Sri Lankans against Sri Lanka. Therefore, by just the mere absence of Indians in the so-called ambulance service does not speak for its innocence at all.

Ironically, during the last days of the war against terrorism, Prabakaran actually used an ambulance once to try and make a run for it. He too assumed that an ambulance would not be challenged and thus hoped to make his escape. His plans were foiled by our superb military intelligence. Therefore, the concerns against this so-called life-saving emergency facility should not be dismissed out of hand. Undoubtedly, if Mr. Lakshman Kardirgama was alive today, he would repeat his famous observation that there is no such thing as a free meal.

Before India and America came up with their generous gifts – ambulances and democracy, it is pertinent to review certain incidents that took place in 2015. This government came with the explicit pledges such as abolishing executive presidency. These pledges would directly affect the nation. It is to fulfill these pledges those who voted for this government registered their vote. Yet, for reasons of its own the government had not been able to fulfill any of these yet and these remain more or less in word format. Chances of these pledges actually translating into action appears extremely remote at this juncture and might simply remain shelved for another administration to tackle.

However, this government had been very committed to fulfill certain pledges the Tamil Diaspora had extracted from them. These pledges include investigating into the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda, assassinations of Raviraj, Joseph Pararajasingham, Lasantha Wicrekmatunge and death of Thajudeen.

Taken individually, it is hard to understand why the Tamil diaspora inclusive regime changers would be so keen to have these cases investigated. What possible international implications could these cases hold? After all, these are not the only crimes that have taken place in Sri Lanka. Especially, after 30 years of gruesome terrorism, how did only these cases bubbled to the surface?

Eknaligoda’s estranged wife, Sandya was having a very tough life before his disappearance. She was engaged in selling lunch packets and such small enterprises to make ends meet. Yet, after his disappearance, she somehow found the means to take her case all the way to Geneva. It appears that she is better looked after as his wife in his disappearance than in his presence. Along the way, she has even won the sympathy of Nisha Biswal, who called on her in one of her visits to Sri Lanka. It must be salt for the Wickrematunge family’s heartache to be thus ignored when Wickrematunge was a well known journalist and editor, whilst almost none even knew of an Eknaligoda until this case.

In the course of the investigations, the military intelligence were implicated and became branded as contract killers. While some cases are still under court proceedings, those accused of Raviraj’s assassination were exonerated. Perhaps, the MI officers and men under investigations of the other cases might also be similarly freed.

However, the damage is already done. In the course of its investigations, the identities of these MI officers and men had been exposed. While a number of them were in remand custody – some for nearly a year and others for two years – scores of officers and men had been questioned, several offices in their Girithale camp sealed, and vital documents demanded to be produced in courts. The intelligence operations had been brought to a standstill.

It is in this background that the Indian ambulance services with RAW fingerprints all over it and the CIA fronted DAI is settling down in Sri Lanka.