Sri Lankan Oppsition vows to blow up proposed bridge between SL and India

[HeinzG]

An observation has reportedly been made by Minister Kabir Hashim to finalise an agreement for building a bridge connecting India and Sri Lanka, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila says.

The observation was made while speaking at a press conference held in Colombo this afternoon (04).

According to Gammanpila, the observation was made while the minister was responding to a cross question asked by a reporter recently in Indonesia.

He pointed out there is a possibility Sinhalese of losing their motherland if this proposal comes a reality,

“The number of unemployed persons in India is over 50 million. There is no way we would be able to stop them from coming here looking for jobs,” he added.

He also vowed to take actions to “blow up” the bridge if it is built for the sake of Sri Lankans.

http://www.adaderana.lk/news/36370/gammanpila-ready-to-blow-up-proposed-bridge-between-sl-and-india

 

[saurav]

This bridge is a stupid idea.

 

[Abba_Dabba_Jabba]

How come Sri lankan will loose their job ? In fact there are more jobs available in India than Sri lanka. This is completely BS by sri lankan opposition.

 

[HeinzG]

What difference would the bridge make?
Won't it monitored like an international border....
Looks like the Sri Lankan opposition is no different than the other south Asian counterparts

Indians would come in guise of worshiping their secrad places like Sita Kovil or simply just seeing their relatives. How can Sri Lankan authorities stop them? And after they come to Sri Lanka with the advent of the ETCA they could have a field day doing what ever they like.

 

[Kathin_Singh]

Indians would come in guise of worshiping their secrad places like Sita Kovil or simply just seeing their relatives. How can Sri Lankan authorities stop them? And after they come to Sri Lanka with the advent of the ETCA they could have a field day doing what ever they like.

Monitoring a bridge is easy but when people comes via boats ,monitoring them is difficult job.Is it not?

 

[Sky lord]

More likely to be the other way, with unemployed Sri Lankans looking for jobs in India which has a much more sophisticated job market.

Anyway the bridge will have passport control and visas .....what a stupid thing to say...they are looking for emotive issues to stir up trouble for the government....nothing constructive.

 

[SparrowJack]

Indians would come in guise of worshiping their secrad places like Sita Kovil or simply just seeing their relatives. How can Sri Lankan authorities stop them? And after they come to Sri Lanka with the advent of the ETCA they could have a field day doing what ever they like.

If they come via bridge they will be carrying passports visas....it will be a hell lot easier for the authorities to maintain them.....if the same persons come via boat then it is unaccounted for......sl govt will not be able to track people....
Think logically which option is better

From an Indian perspective,i think our govt shouldnt fund it bcuz it's not viable economically ....the sl market is not that big for us

 

[egodoc222]

And they are overlooking the tourism potential!!
Literally they will be physically linked to one billion+ market!!

 

[Skull and Bones]

The bridge might cause harm to the local eco-system.

 

[indiatester]

Wouldn't a tunnel make more sense than a bridge?

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Wouldn't a tunnel make more sense than a bridge?

SL is not worth fa such an investment.
Secondly ecosystem in Munnar bioreserve region is sensitive. There was a reason shipping project was cancelled.

 

[indiatester]

SL is not worth fa such an investment.
Secondly ecosystem in Munnar bioreserve region is sensitive. There was a reason shipping project was cancelled.

Munnar? Isn't that in the northern part of Kerala.
Tunnel like you said is definitely more expensive.

 

[RPK]

He meant to say

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Mannar

 

[HeinzG]

If they come via bridge they will be carrying passports visas....it will be a hell lot easier for the authorities to maintain them.....if the same persons come via boat then it is unaccounted for......sl govt will not be able to track people....
Think logically which option is better

From an Indian perspective,i think our govt shouldnt fund it bcuz it's not viable economically ....the sl market is not that big for us

There are Indians that comes with tourist visas and then disappear among the local population as potential laborers. There were several incidents where they were caught working among the locals.

I am talking about the bridge project in the light of sighing of the ECTA agreement between India and Sri Lanka. Which if implemented will enable Indians to work in Sri Lankan service industry without any hindrance.

If Sri Lankan market is not big for India, why then this urgency to sign ECTA/CEPA agreement?

And they are overlooking the tourism potential!!
Literally they will be physically linked to one billion+ market!!

Really? What would Sri Lanka has to offer to India? Despite the billion market, Sri Lanka has no capacity to cater for Indian consumers. Besides it is very difficult to work with Indian bureaucracies and State governments on foreign exports. Even though the central government has opened the gates there are barriers imposed by State governments that hinders any effective business transactions between both countries.

Monitoring a bridge is easy but when people comes via boats ,monitoring them is difficult job.Is it not?

There are no reports on Indians enter into Sri Lanka illegally through boats. Sri Lanka navy has effective surveillance network to monitor border trespassers.

 

[SparrowJack]

There are Indians that comes with tourist visas and then disappear among the local population as potential laborers. There were several incidents where they were caught working among the locals.

I am talking about the bridge project in the light of sighing of the ECTA agreement between India and Sri Lanka. Which if implemented will enable Indians to work in Sri Lankan service industry without any hindrance.

If Sri Lankan market is not big for India, why then this urgency to sign ECTA/CEPA agreement?



Really? What would Sri Lanka has to offer to India? Despite the billion market, Sri Lanka has no capacity to cater for Indian consumers. Besides it is very difficult to work with Indian bureaucracies and State governments on foreign exports. Even though the central government has opened the gates there are barriers imposed by State governments that hinders any effective business transactions between both countries.



There are no reports on Indians enter into Sri Lanka illegally through boats. Sri Lanka navy has effective surveillance network to monitor border trespassers.

Signing an agreement will not cost any bucks....making a bridge will and that too in the range of hundreds of crores