- Ranjan Arun Prasad
- BBC Tamil
Image source, @INDIAINSL
“The strings attached to the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord signed between former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Sri Lankan President JR Jayewardene in 1987 have been ratified for the first time in 35 years. This is the first victory for India, “said Janagan Vinayakamurthy, a Sri Lankan political analyst.
The 100 most important fuel tanks in South Asia, used by the British during World War II, are found near the port of Trincomalee.
One of the fuel tanks thus found is said to have been damaged by a plane crash during World War II.
In this situation, the remaining 99 fuel tanks were found in the possession of Sri Lanka and several countries made continuous efforts to seize it.
Naturally located in South Asia, the port of Trincomalee is one of the most important ports in the world.
In this situation, despite the efforts of many countries to acquire the port, it was not possible to capture it.
Against this backdrop, India already had some of the 99 fuel tanks set up on about 856 acres of land near the port, without proper agreement.
Political analyst Janagan Vinayagamurthy said that although the fuel tanks were supposed to be supplied to India under the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord, they have not yet been delivered as per the relevant agreements.
During the period of the 2002 peace agreement in Sri Lanka, in 2003, Indian Oil Corporation agreed to use 14 of the Trincomalee fuel tanks.
Accordingly, he claims that these fuel tanks were used in the absence of an agreement containing the relevant conditions.
In this context, he notes that the agreement reached between India and Sri Lanka in 1987 has now been renewed.
Trincomalee Fuel Carrier Agreement
Sri Lanka Petroleum Corporation and Lanka Indian Oil Corporation signed an agreement in Colombo on the 6th regarding the 99 fuel tanks found in Trincomalee.
Under the agreement, 14 fuel tanks will be wholly owned by Lanka Indian Oil Corporation and 24 fuel tanks by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.
Image source, IOC
In addition, the remaining 61 fuel tankers are owned by a joint venture between Sri Lanka and India, the Ringo Perolium Terminal.
Sri Lanka Petroleum Corporation and Lanka Indian Oil Corporation have jointly established a company called Ringo Petroleum Terminal.
The Board of Directors of the Company will consist of 4 members appointed by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and 3 members by the Lanka Indian Oil Corporation, which will always be headed by Sri Lanka.
Through Ringo Petroleum Terminal, 51 per cent of the shares are owned by Sri Lanka and 49 per cent by India.
As such, 75 of the Trincomalee fuel tanks belong to India.
According to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Power and Energy, the agreement has been signed for 50 years.
Who won the Trincomalee Fuel Carrier Agreement?
Sri Lanka’s acquisition of Trincomalee fuel tanks is a historic victory for Sri Lanka, says Sri Lankan Energy Minister Udaya Kamanpila.
“We see the recapture of the Trincomalee fuel tank complex, which was ceded to India under the agreements signed in 1987 and 2003, as a historic victory. I am going to hoist the national flag of Sri Lanka at the Trincomalee fuel tank complex, ”Minister of Power and Energy Udaya Kamanpila told a media briefing on the 31st.
Political analyst Janagan Vinayagamurthy says that this is not a victory for Sri Lanka, as Udaya Kamanpila says, but a victory for India.
“India, which has been without an agreement for so long, has now reached an agreement. As Udaya Kamanpila points out, Sri Lanka has not won. It has officially leased 14 tanks to India on a long-term lease basis. An agreement has been reached to operate 61 tanks together. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation is going to use only 24 tanks. India was given life in the 1987 agreement. India has won that place, “he said.
India’s first victory in Sri Lanka since 1987
Political analyst Janagan Vinayagamurthy says India has achieved its first victory in 35 years under the 1987 agreement between India and Sri Lanka.
“All the issues mentioned in the 1987 agreement, including the 13th Amendment, have not yet been implemented. It was an agreement, the only agreement between the two countries that had been put in place and had not been implemented. In one area, India can now be said to have won. This agreement shows that the first step towards the implementation of the 87th year agreement has been taken. The Tamil people need to understand that India has taken the first step towards implementing the 87th Pact, ”Janagan Vinayagamurthy said.
He says the only solution for Tamils is to create economic avenues.
If a clause in the 87th Agreement is fulfilled, India will be the first to move economically.
India, in its first attempt, has seen very profound success. India has brought a total of 75 tanks under its control, including 14 fuel tanks that have not been agreed upon so far and 61 tanks that have been merged with Sri Lanka.
Janagan Vinayakamoorthy explained to BBC Tamil about another victory of India in Sri Lanka.
“Other countries will not set foot on 856 acres of land, India has blocked. India has prevented the US, China or any other country from setting foot on the important port of Trincomalee and its adjoining areas since World War II for the next 50 years. For the first time, India has silenced its diplomatic strategy and achieved massive success, “he said.
India has achieved this historic victory by pledging to provide economic assistance similar to China’s diplomatic moves on Sri Lanka through lending.
The port of Trincomalee, the most important natural harbor in South Asia, has been indirectly brought under Indian control.
He noted that with the aim of ensuring the safety of these tankers, which are located near the Trincomalee port, there is no doubt that India will strengthen the security of the Trincomalee port as well.
It is very clear that India has sought to establish its dominance within Sri Lanka through the settlement of the Trincomalee fuel tanks, through the settlement of central territory.