The relationship between the JVP and China dates back to the very inception of the JVP. JVP leader Rohana Wijeweera chose to follow Chinese communism, moving away from Russian communism, and this decision strengthened ties between China and the JVP. Wijeweera adopted Chinese communism at a time when all other Sri Lankan communist parties had chosen Russian communism as their ideological policy.
After Wijeweera, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva further developed and maintained this relationship with China. During the Rajapaksa government, when Sri Lanka–China relations reached new heights, China continued to maintain a strong relationship with the JVP, despite the JVP adopting a firm anti-Rajapaksa political stance.
After the JVP assumed governance, China invited Tilvin Silva on an official tour to elevate China–JVP relations to new heights. Upon his return, Tilvin Silva told the media that a government should remain in power for 15–20 years to effectively implement reforms, a view he said had been conveyed to him by senior communist party officials. During this visit, Tilvin Silva and the Chinese Communist Party discussed transforming the JVP’s organisational mechanisms. The underlying idea was to establish a relationship similar to that which exists between the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government—between the government and the JVP.
Subsequently, a delegation from the Chinese Communist Party visited Sri Lanka and held discussions with Tilvin Silva.
Tilvin Silva also received an invitation to tour India in November. While India maintained close relations with President Anura, it did not have the same level of engagement with Tilvin. The reason lay in the close relationship between Tilvin and China. while India’s point of engagement when dealing with South Asian countries is primarily the head of state. Sri Lanka’s JVP-led government, however, does not function in that manner. In this system, the party secretary wields power comparable to that of the head of state. It is likely for this reason that India has sought to build a closer relationship with Tilvin.
Tilvin’s presence at the recent Indian Republic Day celebrations created considerable political attention. On that occasion, the Indian High Commission set aside standard protocol and accorded Tilvin the highest level of recognition and respect. Against this backdrop, Tilvin’s move towards India at a time when China was withdrawing from the Hambantota Sinopec refinery project cannot be seen as a coincidence.
By Upul Joseph Fernando
