While rumours circulate that the Podujana Peramuna will propose Mahinda Rajapaksa be reinstated as Prime Minister, China got down Podujana Preamuna and UNP delegation to China. Podujana Peramuna and U.N.P. delegation left for China on a special invitation from the Chinese government, in the background where Podujana Peramuna had unofficially informed President Ranil to give Mahinda the post of Prime Minister.
Both the government and the opposition have previously been invited to visit China. China has invited political parties in Sri Lanka for the first time since Covid. This invitation is to the secretary of the Podujana Peramuna and the secretary of the United National Party. It is very curious to note china extending an invitation to this alliance formed after Ranil became the president. Mahinda Rajapaksa is China’s close ally. Mahinda initiated Chinese projects such as Hambantota Port, Mattala Airport, and Colombo Port City. Ranil also became a Chines fried by leasing Hambantota port and allowed the Yuan Wang spy ship to visit Sri Lanka.
China may think that a government formed by an alliance between Mahinda and Ranil will be beneficial to Chinese interests. At this time Ranil wants China to restructure the debt. Since Ranil already deals closely with America, India and Japan, using Mahinda to balance China is not a disadvantage for Ranil. It is not known whether Mahinda has given a guarantee that if he is made the prime minister, he can get Chinese support in debt restructuring. Rajapakse family sources say that China is wholeheartedly supporting Mahinda as Prime Minister.
When Gotabhaya was president, the Chinese Prime Minister called Mahinda and promised to provide the necessary Chinese assistance to resolve the economic crisis. There is no need to go to the IMF to solve the crisis they had indicated to Mahinda. But Gotabhaya refused to accept Mahinda’s proposal because he was very close to India. Mahinda was asked to step down by Ghotabhaya as prime minister after he brought this Chinese proposal. Gotabhaya later decided to go to the IMF, but Ranil implemented it. Chinese assistance is required in debt restructuring. As a result, Mahinda may be planning to play the Chinese card in order to become Prime Minister.
But China has no experience of influencing on Sri Lankan politics. Because of this, it is unthinkable that China will pressure Ranil to appoint Mahinda as Prime Minister. By inviting Podujana Peramuna and U.N.P for a visit to China, it seems that China wants to see these two parties working together. Ranil too may think that making Mahinda Prime Minister is a strategy to win the trust of America and India by implying his dealings with China on Mahinda.
