Govt., Opp. under India's thumb alleges FSP

Disputed take-over of Colombo Dockyard by Mazagon

- BY SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO

The ruling National People's Power (NPP) and the parliamentary Opposition are under the thumb of India, Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) spokesman, Pubudu Jayagoda, alleged yesterday (01).

Jayagoda cited Mazagon Dock, India's biggest warship builder, securing a controlling interest in Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) as a glaring case in point.

The Opposition conveniently turned a blind eye to the Indian move for obvious reasons, Jayagoda said, demanding that the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the United National Party (UNP) and Sarvajana Balaya reveal their official position on the issue at hand.

Jayagoda said that it was not so difficult to comprehend the NPP's subservient attitude to Narendra Modi's India but the Opposition's silence is deafening.

Responding to The Island queries, the FSP spokesman emphasised that the whole issue had to be examined, taking into consideration the disputable Japanese role in the developing situation here. Acknowledging that Japan had been one of Sri Lanka's long-standing development partners and helpful in numerous ways, regardless of political changes here, the outspoken political activist pointed out Tokyo appeared to have backed the Indian takeover of the strategic asset in Colombo.