TRINCOMALEE CONSULTATIONS Regional Cooperation for Economic Prosperity and Maritime Security in the Bay of Bengal February 16th & 17th, 2017 Colombo, Sri Lanka Organized by the Centre for Indo–Lanka Initiatives of Pathfinder Foundation in cooperation with Carnegie India Sponsored by the Embassy of Japan and the Royal Norwegian Embassy TRINCOMALEE CONSULTATIONS Regional Cooperation for Economic Prosperity and Maritime Security in the Bay of Bengal Trincomalee Consultations: Regional Cooperation for Economic Prosperity and Maritime Security in the Bay of Bengal © Pathfinder Foundation ISBN 978-955-1201-06-7 1st Edition April 2017 Cover Designed By Pathfinder Foundation Printed By Softwave Reprographers (Pvt.) Ltd 107 D, Havelock Road, Colombo 05 Table of Contents Concept note for Trincomalee Consultations .................................................................................1 Address by Chief Guest – Hon. Austin Fernando ...........................................................................3 Address by Guest of Honor – Mr. Santosh Jha ...............................................................................9 Speech by Mr. Noriyuki Shikata ....................................................................................................14 The Bay of Bengal and Its Growing Significance – Dr. C. Raja Mohan ......................................17 One Belt many Roads and Beyond – Mr. Abu Saeed Khan .........................................................24 Changing US-China Power Balance and Role of Japan-Sri Lanka-India Co-operation – Dr. Satoru Nagao ...............................................................................................................36 Strategic Importance of Trincomalee Harbour in the Bay of Bengal Region – Admiral Dr. Jayanath Colombage .....................................................................................47 Pre-conditions for the success of Trincomalee as a transport and logistics hub serving the Bay of Bengal – Professor Rohan Samarajiva ...................................................................60 Development of Trincomalee Harbour as a hub for Bay of Bengal Region – Mr. Rohan Masakorala.......................................................................................................72 Functional Regional Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal – Ambassador Sumith Nakandala .........81 Chairpersons and Co-chairpersons ................................................................................................91 Rapporteur’s Report – Professor Sirimal Abeyratne ....................................................................93 Summary and Outcome of Trincomalee Consultations ..............................................................133 List of Participants ......................................................................................................................137 Concept Note for Trincomalee Consultations Enhanced Regional Cooperation for Economic Prosperity, Connectivity and Maritime Security in the Bay of Bengal Background Bay of Bengal is regarded as the largest bay in the world and forms the northern part of the Indian Ocean (IO). It is bordered by India and Sri Lanka to the west, Bangladesh to the north and Myanmar and Andaman Nicobar Islands to the east. Nepal and Bhutan are two landlocked countries in the Bay of Bengal. Thailand and Malaysia are connected to the Bay of Bengal across the Andaman Sea. This bay occupies an area of 2,172,000 square kilometers. A number of large rivers and tributaries flow in to the Bay depositing sediments, which contains commercially exploitable minerals as well as hydrocarbons. The sediments from these rivers form the Bengal Delta and the Submarine Fan, a vast structure that extends from Bangladesh to south of the equator, which is up to 16.5 k.m. thick and contains at least 1,130 trillion tonnes of sediment. Major and minor ports in the Bay of Bengal are: India: Chennai, Kolkata, Tuticorin, Vishakhapatnam (major ports) Kakinad, Pondichery, Paradip, Dhamra, Gopalpur (minor Ports) Bangladesh: Chittagong, Mongla Myanmar: Yangon, Sitwe, Kyaukpyu Sri Lanka: Trincomalee, Hambantota Port of Trincomalee is the biggest natural deep water harbor in the Bay of Bengal and is considered as one of the finest harbors in the world with an average depth of 25 meters. Even mega container ships carrying over 18,000 TEUs with a draught of 19 meters could use this port safely. However, facilities are yet to be developed to derive its full potential. The Bay of Bengal is centrally located from the oil producing Middle East to the Philippines Sea. It lies at the center of two key regional blocks, ASEAN and SAARC. It influences China’s southern landlocked region in the north. The Bay of Bengal is strategically important to the economic development of the Bay of Bengal community, particularly India, the regional military power. The IO is fast becoming the key ocean in the world with its geo-economic and geo-strategic significance. As the Bay of Bengal occupies a strategically important location in the northern Indian Ocean, it should play a more important role in developing connectivity, be that by sea or air. Country Population GDP (US $) GDP growth Trade Volumes-2015 Name (2015) rate 2015 2015 Merchandise Trade Trade (% % GDP) GDP Bangladesh 161 million $195.1 billion 6.60% 36.8 42.1 Bhutan 774,800 $1.962 billion 3.30% 89.4 116 India 1.311 billion $2.074 trillion 7.60% 31.8 .. 1 Japan 127 million $4.123 trillion 0.50% 30.9 36.8 Malaysia 30.33 million $296.2 billion 5.00% 126.9 134.4 Myanmar 53.90 million $64.87 billion 7.00% 33.7 .. Nepal 28.51 million $1.962 billion 3.30% 34 53.2 Singapore 5.535 million $292.7 billion 2.00% 221.1 326.1 Sri Lanka 20.97 million $82.32 billion 4.80% 35.9 48.5 Thailand 67.96 million $395.3 billion 2.80% 105.5 .. Source:http://databank.worldbank.org/data/reports.aspx?source=2&series=NE.TRD.GN FS.ZS&country=LKA + Objective This project aims at enhancing regional cooperation for improving political and economic relations, maritime security, including Blue Economic concepts and increasing connectivity among the countries in the Bay of Bengal by creating a forum to study, discuss and explore potential for cooperation, and make recommendations. Target Groups The Target Groups of the project include relevant legislators, policy makers, civil society leaders, private sector, the academia and all other stakeholders. Participants The proposed consultations are recommended to be track 1.5 dialogues, where government officials and non-governmental actors could engage in frank and free discussions. The Participants would be: Government officials: Dealing with Trade and Commerce, Shipping, Aviation, Tourism, Blue Economy, Navy and Coast Guard and Marine Conservation authorities. Business Community: Maritime Logistics, Ports, Aviation, Fisheries, Energy, Tourism, BOP, Light and Heavy Industries, oil and gas and any other ocean based or ocean related industry. Academics and Scientists: Dealing with Oceanography, Meteorology, Environment, Marine Biology and Ecology, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Biotechnology, Blue Technology, Offshore oil and gas exploration and Ocean Energy. Civil Society: NGOs, which have a stake in relevant areas. Any other subject matter experts as necessary. 2 Address by Chief Guest Hon. Austin Fernando Governor of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and Adviser to the President Chairman Bernard Goonetilleke, Mr. Paskeralingam, Excellencies, Senior Advisor Prime Minister, Mr. Milinda Moragoda, Delegates, Ladies and gentlemen, as you are perhaps aware I do not belong to the group called ‘economists’ or ‘experts’ on international affairs since I am a retired Sri Lanka Administrative Service officer – SLAS- like the IAS of India. Therefore, I believe the subject matter for this Consultation could be more relevant to my friends Bernard Goonetilleke or Siri Palihakkara, great diplomats produced by Sri Lanka in recent times, and others including greats who have come here from abroad. I stand here as a person holding a position which is administrative and political. Perhaps, my being stationed in Trincomalee and your Consultation being ‘Trincomalee Consultations,’ would have been the reasons for inviting me as the Chief Guest. I need to thank Bernard Goonethilleke and Pathfinder Foundation for having honoured me by inviting to address a gathering of great intellectuals and seasoned professionals. In this regard, I wish to first revisit the plans on-line by the Government of Sri Lanka towards development. As our Prime Minister emphasized in Singapore on July 18th last year, the government plans for economic and infrastructure projects among others, to reshape the country’s urban landscape with two airports and two sea ports. Among them aimed to be completed within the 15 years is the Trincomalee Port Development Project. My concern as the Governor of East is naturally on it. I consider Trincomalee Port development has your concerns on economic development and security governance. The economic concerns are on the factors of economic development existing in my Province and around Trincomalee. These concerns are based on demand and supply of factors motivating and sensitizing development. The demand arises from what the investors expect from a development zone, mostly as inputs. They require land, manpower, stability, access, ports, communication facilities, cooperative administration etc. and marketing feasibilities. These factors are mostly supplied by Mother Nature, law and order organizations,