Sri Lanka proposed Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace in 1971 – but divesting national maritime asset to India to manufacture warships
It is shocking that Sri Lanka’s stature in the global arena & among the diplomatic community has stooped to an all-time low. When a proud Sri Lanka proposed in 1971 the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace, a resolution was passed in the UNGA 2832 (XXVI). Today, successive leaders & their policy stooges have ignored the vision of that Resolution & has over the years diminished Sri Lanka’s sovereignty to a level where our leaders are even agreeing to divest critical national security assets for foreign companies to manufacture warships. The citizens of Sri Lanka, must unite to object to Sri Lanka’s geographic location becoming prostituted for geopolitical goals of others while make the lives of Sri Lanka’s vulnerable. The proposal for a Zone of Peace was by one of Sri Lanka’s greatest leaders Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike whose proposal was greatly supported by China in 1971. It is a pity Sri Lanka has no farsighted leaders with pragmatic vision.
Historical importance of the Indian Ocean
The 3rd largest ocean in the world, it plays a pivotal role in global trade, geopolitics & ecology.
The Indian Ocean covers about 20% of the Earths water surface & borders West & East Africa, North & South Asia, East & South East Asia, Australia, South Ocean near Antarctica.
About 38 countries (littoral & hinterland) of which 25 directly bordering the Indian Ocean (10 states in African East Coast), 4 states in Middle East & West Asia, 6 states in South Asia, 5 states in South East Asia & Australia.
13 countries however are strategically engaged in hinterland or with littoral states through port agreements, naval bases or other geopolitical interests. This countries include France, UK, US, China, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Qatar, Israel, Turkey & South Korea.
There are also important chokepoints –
Strait of Hormuz – strategically important energy transit point (Between Oman & Iran) 21m barrels of oil daily passed through Indian Ocean in 2023 (20% of global oil consumption)
Strait of Malacca (between Malaysia & Indonesia) – is the shortest route between Indian & Pacific Oceans. 100,000 vessels transit annually carrying 25% of global trade. This lane is vulnerable to piracy & congestion.
Bab el-Mandeb (between Yemen & Djibouti) – connecting Indian Ocean to the Red Sea & Suez Canal. 62m barrels of oil pass daily (large container traffic)
as well as strategically important islands in the Indian ocean – Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Diego Garcia.
The Indian Ocean is home to around 2.7billion people spanning 3 continents.
The Indian Ocean hosts the major shipping lanes, energy routes & is of significant geopolitical interest to all major powers.
80% of the world’s maritime oil trade passes through the Indian Ocean
40% of global trade by volume moves through the Indian Ocean
1/3 of worlds bulk cargo & half of container traffic moves across the Indian Ocean sea lanes.
Servicing these are critical Ports in Chennai, Mumbai, Kochi in India, Durban in South Africa, Mombasa in Kenya, Port Klang, Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai & Sallalh in Oman & Port of Colombo, in Sri Lanka.
One has to wonder if the sudden “pirate” issue emerging in early 2010s was a justification to militarize & increase surveillance for the superpowers using the Indian Ocean for strategic goals.
The Indian Ocean is the artery of global trade especially energy. Control over its lanes, controls global economic stability.
Historic importance of the Indian Ocean
Since 3000 BCE the Indian Ocean has been an ancient maritime trade hub connecting Africa, Middle East, South Asia & South East Asia.
It was the Silk Road of the sea for spices, textiles, gold, & an exchange between ancient civilizations.
Buddhism spread to South East Asia, Islam reached Indonesia & East Africa & Hinduism influences regions through the oceans.
Controlling the seas was key to empire building -thus the Portuguese, Dutch, British & French fought naval battles to dominate trade routes & colonize coastal terrain.
Eventually the British Empire controlled major choke points – Aden, the Maldives, Mauritius & Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
Presently, the Indian Ocean is claimed by QUAD (US-India-Japan-Australia) while they claim China is building its String of Pearls.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, Sri Lanka is at the centre of the Indian Ocean. Close to the major east-west shipping routes (Colombo & Hambantota Port are pivotal for global maritime logistics) and the geographic value of Sri Lanka is a prize for geopolitical rivalries competing to secure Sri Lanka for its own geopolitical & trade goals.
Sri Lanka’s call in 1971 for the Indian Ocean to become a “Zone of Peace” is important in taking to account how important Indian Ocean is & the militarization of the Indian Ocean that is now unfolding.
Key aspects of the UN Resolution 2832 (XXVI) – Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace (1971)
- Demilitarization – urging global powers, especially nuclear states to refrain from military build-ups & to dismantle existing military bases in the Indian Ocean region.
- Geopolitical Neutrality – to shield the Indian Ocean from rivalries, maintaining it as a neutral space to avoid tension among superpowers.
- Protect Sovereignty – respecting sovereignty & independence of all littoral & hinterland states in the Indian Ocean region.
- Freedom of Navigation – unimpeded maritime movement ensuring Indian Ocean remains open to peaceful use by all nations.
- Dialogue & Cooperation – regional & international consultations involving Security Councils permanent members & major maritime users to formulate the regions peaceful status.
How relevant is Sri Lanka’s Zone of Peace Resolution now?
Indian Ocean is the new theatre of activity which makes promotion of the Zone of Peace essential.
Increased naval exercises by global powers, increased strategic agreements & defense pacts are all leading to increased tensions & making citizens of littoral & hinterland states apprehensive.
While Sri Lanka’s leaders were pragmatic & forward thinking enough to foresee the scenario in the Indian Ocean way back in 1971 to promote the Zone of Peace, Sri Lanka’s present leaders lack foresight or vision.
Sri Lanka’s leaders instead of taking advantage of Sri Lanka’s geopolitical location to Sri Lanka’s advantage have doled out Sri Lanka to the advantage of rival nations competition with each other & now using Sri Lanka as a political football.
Sri Lanka has found itself caught between rivalries for lack of ability to stand up against power players and negotiating deals not from the bearer of a beggar’s bowl. That Sri Lanka’s leaders have made Sri Lanka vulnerable & dependent on foreign investment, economic reliance & trapped into divesting all that is precious to Sri Lanka is tragic.
The argument that Sri Lanka has to divest in order to repay debt is not a solution. If Sri Lanka’s leaders & policy makers divest all that Sri Lanka holds dear & how is Sri Lanka to survive with nothing to make income from & perhaps more loans to repay?
While Sri Lanka’s leaders have signed secret agreements with India’s PM, it has been revealed that one of these agreements is to divest Sri Lanka’s Colombo Dockyard to an Indian company. This action is a direct violation of Sri Lanka’s own “Zone of Peace” resolution. Handing over a critical maritime asset to a major regional power undermines Sri Lanka’s own vision & Sri Lanka will only be opening the door to geopolitical leverage & military industrial entanglement in Sri Lanka’s own waters.
Sri Lanka’s leaders cannot be ignorant of India’s regional history especially when India secretly trained & armed guerilla warfare in Sri Lanka while also sending Indian troops who committed mass crimes. India’s economic blockade on Nepal in 2015, cutting electricity to Bangladesh in 2024 & the recent military tensions between India & Pakistan while also forcing Sri Lanka to cancel military exercises with Pakistan are signs Sri Lanka’s leaders are signing off Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, betraying the citizens of Sri Lanka. A strategic shipyard under foreign control reduces maritime autonomy & poses a national security risk, surrendering Sri Lanka’s infrastructure diminishes long-term self-reliance & economic independence especially when Sri Lanka has talented people working at the dockyard. We were a nation that took orders to build mighty ships for foreign kings.
The spirit of Sri Lanka’s 1971 Zone of Peace UN Resolution is lost when alongside the buildup of militarization of ports & sea lanes, proxy naval competition via infrastructure deals, nuclear competitions & undermining & bullying of smaller nations to which is added Sri Lanka divesting its assets for warship manufacture to foreign company. This proposed handover is far more than a commercial deal – it’s a strategic realignment with deep implications for Sri Lanka’s future & it diminishes the proud historical past of Sri Lanka and will diplomatically places Sri Lanka as a vassal state.
How shortsighted & foolish can Sri Lanka’s leaders be?
Shenali D Waduge
