The JVP, when in opposition, had previously criticized successive Sri Lankan governments for leasing the strategically significant Hambantota Port to China on a 99-year lease and for allowing Beijing to construct the Colombo Port City adjacent to the island’s main commercial harbour.

The FrontLine Socialist Party (FLSP), a breakaway faction from the ruling Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), has issued a stern warning to the Sri Lankan government against becoming embroiled in the escalating geopolitical tensions between regional powers India and China. This caution follows President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent visits to both nations.

President Dissanayake recently concluded a visit to China, which came just a month after his inaugural foreign trip to India. During his stay in Beijing, the Sri Lankan leader committed to implementing eight strategic steps outlined by Chinese President Xi Jinping to enhance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Among the agreed-upon projects are the continuation of major initiatives such as the joint development of the Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Port.

The FLSP’s central committee, in a statement, described the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as more than an economic development program, branding it instead as a strategic geopolitical maneuver by China in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. The party emphasized the increasing risks posed by the Indo-Pacific Strategy led by the United States, which aims to counter China’s regional influence.

“The United States is pursuing what it calls the ‘Indo-Pacific Strategy’ against China, and it is no secret that this power struggle has been creating acute tensions in the Asian region, including the Indian Ocean,” the FLSP statement read. “It could escalate from an economic, trade war and political, diplomatic confrontation to an open military conflict.”

Chinese Influence

The JVP, when in opposition, had previously criticized successive Sri Lankan governments for leasing the strategically significant Hambantota Port to China on a 99-year lease and for allowing Beijing to construct the Colombo Port City adjacent to the island’s main commercial harbour.

The FLSP has expressed concerns over Sri Lanka’s increasing entanglement in the geopolitical struggle between India and China, pointing to the joint statements issued after President Dissanayake’s visits to both countries. The party highlighted that Sri Lanka’s recent agreements suggest a division of influence, with India exerting control over the Northern and Eastern provinces while China expands its presence in the Southern region, including Hambantota.

A key point of contention is Sri Lanka’s agreement with China’s state-run Sinopec to construct the country’s largest refinery with a $3.7 billion investment near the Hambantota port. FLSP claims that this project raises significant concerns regarding the country’s energy sovereignty and financial transparency. Simultaneously, the party warned that a proposed oil pipeline project with India could severely impact Sri Lanka’s revenue from fuel bunkering operations.

“This is not only a matter of losing revenue, but also a risk that Sri Lanka will lose its energy sovereignty, and the provision of military facilities at these ports poses a threat to national security,” the statement added.

The FLSP underscored the growing strategic rivalry in the region, stating, “All these agreements indicate that the North and East are under Indian domination, while the Southern province, including Hambantota, is under Chinese authority. The fact that these regional powers are preparing for a strong intervention in Colombo makes this danger even more serious.”

Call for Public Action

Amid rising concerns over the government’s strategic choices, the FLSP has called on the public to be vigilant about the potential loss of both economic and political independence. They urged Sri Lankans to take an active role in addressing the challenges posed by the emerging geopolitical landscape.

“We believe that the positions taken by the government in the face of the geopolitical conflict that have emerged in connection with the President’s visits to India and China are extremely serious,” the FLSP statement said. “We appeal to the working people, including the able masses, for an organized intervention to create alternatives to the economic, political, geopolitical, and military challenges faced by Sri Lanka and to make them a reality.”

The FLSP played a key role in Sri Lanka’s 2022 mass protests that led to the ousting of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. However, political analysts note that despite their influence in mobilizing protests, the party has struggled to translate that momentum into electoral success in comparison to the JVP.

As Sri Lanka navigates these complex international relationships, concerns persist about the nation’s sovereignty and its ability to maintain a balanced foreign policy amidst mounting external pressures.