The Chair of the panel Director
General Asanga Abeyagoonasekera highlighted the importance of Sri Lankan
President Maithripala Sirisena receiving the Chair of the BIMSTEC this year in
Nepal and said “this is a golden opportunity for Sri Lanka to work towards
strengthening multilateralism in this region which is one of the least integrated regions of the world. BIMSTEC is
no longer purely seen as a development
forum due to its security agenda, think tanks such as INSSSL has a big role to
play”. Mr. Hewage highlighted that Sri Lanka as the Chair of BIMSTEC, should go
forward in opening trade avenues, in being economically proactive in the
region. He brought out the importance of Bilateral Agreements as opposed to the
FTA currently proposed by BIMSTEC. He explained that BIMSTEC creates the
platform in making value chains which Sri Lanka has failed to plug into and it
could be sought after as a replacement for SAARC in creating trade relations.
In the process of building trade relations, RCEP or Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership was mentioned as a positive coalition and a developing
countries’ response to TPP. He concluded his remarks adding a skeptical note on
BIMSTEC, particularly on its FTA which has been in process of negotiation since
2004, yet it has not been concluded or executed.
Ms Natasha, as the second panelist,
brought “security cooperation through BIMSTEC” into discussion. Through her
presentation, she analyzed BIMSTEC as a sub-regional organization, regional
security cooperation, its role in countering terrorism and transnational crime
sector. She highlighted the significance of intelligence sharing among the
members of BIMSTEC in addressing the security issues of the region such as
terrorism and transnational crimes. She further proposed the need for an
authoritative, legal institution from within BIMSTEC, listing comprehensive
specifications in sharing intelligence.
Commodore Sanjeewa Dias, focusing on
marine security, explained the increased occurrence of nontraditional security
threats such as, maritime terrorism, piracy, Illegal migration, Illegal,
unreported and unregulated fishing, trafficking of narcotics, marine pollution
in the region that has affected maritime security. He also added the risks of
weapon smuggling and the dangers of hybrid threats (using ships as bombs)
that can affect not only the seas but also the shores, and hence even pose a
threat to tourism industry of the country. Therefore he highlighted the need to
consider maritime security as a top priority in BIMSTEC.
Ms Natasha from NISSSL and Commodore
Sanjeewa Dias from Sri Lanka Navy, both emphasized the importance of
intelligence sharing in controlling and mitigating the traditional and
non-traditional security threats to the region. And further proposed the
establishment of an infusion center in Sri Lanka enabling intelligence sharing
among the members of the BIMSTEC.
Prof. Hemanthi Ranasinghe emphasized
the significance of the environmental sector in ensuring the security and
sustainable development of the region. She proposed linking the three
concepts of BIMSTEC, SDG’s and environment together to engage in collaborative
exercises in achieving development. In realizing sustainable development,
BIMSTEC can contribute by enabling technological transfer, formulating common
policies across borders, assistance in disaster situations and in overcoming common
development challenges. As a region with common environmental issues such as
deforestation and land degradation, she stressed the importance of
collaboration and cooperation in realizing and alleviation of these issues.
Rohan Masakorala, engaged in bringing
the areas of shipping and connectivity into the discussion. He described this
era to be the “Asian century” and emphasized that Sri Lanka has not yet become
successful in joining the development process along with other Asian countries
such as South Korea, Singapore and India. He presented the prevailing nature of
protectionism as the main reason for holding back Sri Lanka from becoming a
shipping hub in the region. Hence he stressed the need to open up the country
to create trade relations, attract investors in the long run of becoming a
transshipment location. Chinese presence in Hambanthota port was explained as a
threat and in competing with a major power such as China to control the ports
and shipping industry of the country, Colombo Port faces a grave challenge.
Hence in balancing the Chinese influence and also with only a small market (of
20 million) in the country, it is necessary to maintain and build connections
with neighboring countries especially with India.
In balancing Bay of Bengal, he projected the increasing value of Trincomalee
port thus stressed the need to keep it in possession of the country in
becoming a regional player in BIMSTEC region which will also ensure the
national security of Sri Lanka.
Press Release issued by INSSSL, Writer is Ms.Savithri Sellapperumage, Research Assistant(Intern) at INSSSL