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Proceedings of 12Th International Research Conference 2019, KDU Proceedings of 12th International Research Conference 2019, KDU 1 Proceedings of 12th International Research Conference 2019, KDU Is a Non-Aligned Defence Policy the best option for Sri Lanka’s Economic Prosperity? KERL Fernando [email protected] Abstract—Despite international warnings on a that have made their intentions clear are the U.S.1, possible ISIS attack, the ‘Easter Sunday Attack’ on Sri China and India. However, it must be borne in mind Lanka confirmed the fact that political agendas and the geopolitical agendas of each of these nations are state security must never be tangled. Though in 2009, significantly different and more often than influence Sri Lanka was a country capable enough to defeat the nations towards a strategic alignment to one of them. world’s most brutal terrorist organization, right after This paper strives to present a case to pursue a non- ten years, in 2019, ‘too much freedom, too much aligned defence policy for Sri Lanka to achieve both reconciliation and too much political compromises’ led strategic economic and geopolitical stability. As per to ignoring the intelligence reports on State security. Zukrowska (1999), “The link between economics and Unlike other countries, from ancient era, location of security was always rather obvious. Stability in this Sri Lanka has made it a ‘hot spot’ in geopolitical context can be seen in two ways: as political stability warfare. In this backdrop, even though ISIS took over and as economic stability. A lack of stabilisation in one the responsibility of ‘Easter Sunday Attack’ in Sri of the mentioned fields, let alone both, can be Lanka, it is imperative to answer, Why Sri Lanka? dangerous as has been proved by historical Therefore, the research problem of this paper is to precedent” mainly focus on why ISIS chose Sri Lanka to launch this attack? In order to find possible answers, the research II.BACKGROUND st methodology adopted focussed on secondary data On 21 April 2019, Easter Sunday morning, a wave of sources of media and internet. deadly bomb blasts hit Sri Lanka. Three churches and It is pertinent to mention that this research is three luxury hotels in the commercial capital Colombo explorative rather than explanative, basically to were targeted in a series of coordinated terrorist secure Sri Lanka’s future economic growth and suicide bombings. Later that day, there were another geopolitical stability by pursuing a non-aligned two explosions at a housing complex in Dematagoda strategy. Ultimately, it is the prime objective of the and a guest house in Dehiwala. “253 people were research outcomes to emphasis on policies and killed” (The Guardian 2019) including foreign strategies for strategic defence of Sri Lanka in nationals, and 03 police officers and at least 500 were geopolitical realities and furthermore to introduce injured. “Death roll revised down from 359 by recommendations to the legal framework which is the authorities” (Aljazeera 2019). As reported by BBC need of the hour to support Sri Lanka’s defence policy. (2019) “Government admitted a major intelligence This research has steered clear from not making lapse before the attacks as the Indian Intelligence conclusions, however the inferences been made could warnings about planned attacks had not been taken instigate a certain course of action which the author seriously”. believes the national defence and economic experts are in the best position to consider. Keywords— International Geopolitics, ISIS, Strategic Economic Growth, Sri Lanka’s Future Defence Policy I.SRI LANKA’S FUTURE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND GEOPOLITICAL STBILITY Sri Lanka’s geopolitical location in the Indian Ocean has been of strategic interest to all key nations operating in the Asia-Pacific region. The key nations 1 U.S.- United States of America 2 Proceedings of 12th International Research Conference 2019, KDU Source: The Guardian (2nd May 2019) “Sri Lanka Police Location Suicide bomber name all nine Easter Sunday suicide bombers” St. Anthony’s Church, Alawddin Ahmed Muath rd 2 On 23 April, ISIS claimed the responsibility of the Colombo (Local resident) attacks in Sri Lanka, by stating they were the work of “fighters of the Islamic State” via their Amaq News St. Sebastian’s Church, Mohamed Hasthun Agency (Guardian 2019). It also released a Negombo (resident from East) photograph showing the suicide bombers standing in Zion Church, Mohamed Nasser Mohamed front of an ISIS flag taking an oath of allegiance. Batticoloa Asad (local resident) “These attacks also suggest that ISIS had sub- contracted bombings to two local groups “National Shangri-La Hotel, Zaharan Hashim, (Leader of NTJ) Ilham Ahamed Mohamed Thowheed Jama’at (NTJ)” and “Jammiyathul Millathu Colombo Ibrahim (JMI)”” (Hoffman 2019), which were Ibrahim 3 subsequently banned by the Government of Sri Cinnamon Grand Hotel Insaf Ahamed Lanka. NTJ is a previously little-known extremist Colombo (Ilham’s elder brother) Islamist group who had reportedly vandalized Buddhist statues in December 2018 in Mawanella Kingsbury Hotel, Mohamed Azzam Mubarak Colombo Mohamed (Indian Express 2019). Even less is known about JMI. In this backdrop, on 22nd April, Emergency Law4 came Tropical Inn- Guest Abdul Latheef into effect, under Gazette No 2120/5 and on the same House, Dehiwala (man who failed set bomb off in day midnight, police curfew was declared giving Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo) police extensive powers to detain and interrogate Housing Complex, Fathima Ilham suspects. An overnight curfew and day time curfew Dehiwala (wife of the youngest of Ilham also imposed in several days as appropriate to assist brothers) investigations as well as to minimize tense situations as occurred during the 1983 Insurgency. “On 24th May Hypothesis- The Nations pursuing defence Emergency Law was further extended for a month”. agreements with Sri Lanka do so to achieve (Colombo Page 2019). Aftermath of the attack, Prime geopolitical dominance versus Sri Lanka’s future Minister (PM) had been reiterating the need for economic prosperity and geopolitical stability. foreign intelligence support in his several statements Research Objectives- In order to answer the above from the time of the attacks. However, according to problem statement an extensive study of geopolitics Kurukulasuriya (2019), “the government’s response to and disclosure of relationship between geopolitics this new crisis, with its dire security dimension, shows and terrorism is required to establish if the Easter a level of internal dysfunction that has left citizens Sunday attack in Sri Lanka was geopolitically aghast”. The confidence the average Sri Lankan had instigated. Therefore, this study aims to: of the defence establishment has been completely - Understand the strategic geopolitical shattered. importance of Sri Lanka - Understand the new global geopolitical realities which guide India, Pakistan and III. RESEARCH DESIGN China’s influence on Sri Lanka from a Despite the fact that these attacks were locally historical perspective planned or sub-contracted by ISIS, it is yet a mystery, - Understand U.S. strategic geopolitical why they chose Sri Lanka? Therefore, the problem agenda statement, hypothesis and design of this research are - Ultimately, to analyse the background of ISIS as follows; and means of their intervention to Sri Lanka Research Problem- Mainly focus to answer the ‘Easter IV. SRI LANKA’S STRATEGIC GEOPOLITICAL LOCATION Sunday attack’ carried out by ISIS, WHY was Sri Lanka AND CHALLENGES targeted? Sri Lanka is located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, being a key geographical location which is a gateway to Africa and Latin America. Similar to Istanbul5 which 2 ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) or IS (Islamic State) or 4 Emergency Regulations No 1 of 2019 ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) 5 Istanbul is the largest city of Turkey 3 NTJ and JMI were banned on 27th April 2019, under Emergency Regulations No 1 of 2019. 3 Proceedings of 12th International Research Conference 2019, KDU bridge between Europe and Asia. According to Daniel RAW10 of India and with the blessings of Prime (2019), “30,000 naval vessels, 45,000 air crafts and Minister (PM) of India, Indira Gandhi”. Therefore, it is 4,500 oil tankers passed by our 200nm of EEZ every not a surprise when they halted military advance on year. No trade can happen between the Middle East the LTTE leader. But Pakistan assisted the energy producers and energy consumers in far East Government of Sri Lanka in supplying high-tech without Sri Lanka being involved” Sri Lanka has faced military equipment to the Sri Lankan army in the Civil many invasions due to its geopolitical location. It is War against LTTE further strengthening ties with Sri also pertinent to mention the U.S. dwindling influence Lanka. Next, it is important to analyse how India turn in Asia-Pacific especially, in the Philippines and Japan out to be a main character in geopolitics. For that, it is in terms of their defence bases. As per Koenig (2019), imperative to focus pre and post Bin Laden incidents “As the world-geostrategic location of Sri Lanka, links which occurred between U.S. and Pakistan. After Bin the Arabian Sea with the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka may Laden was found in Pakistan in 2011, the “U.S.- also have a direct, open-sea connection with the small Pakistan alliance split” (Ross 2011). Therefore, U.S. British island of Diego Garcia, in the Chagos chose India over Pakistan to establish U.S. South Asian Archipelago, north-east of Madagascar. Diego Garcia influence. National Pubic Radio (2011) reported that hosts the US’s largest Navy base outside the American “The Obama administration’s decision to suspend Continent” $800 million in aid to the Pakistan’s military signals tougher U.S. line with a critical but sometimes In this backdrop, understanding the geopolitical unreliable partner in the fight against terrorism”. In agendas of India, Pakistan, China, U.S., Saudi Arabia 2018, The Economic Times stated, “The Donald Trump and Israeli are crucial.
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