Sri Lanka Coastguard and the Greatest Challenge before the Nation

March 4, 2010 is a very special day for Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan capital changed from the North Central towards the South West since Polonnaruwa fell in 1215 following Kalinga Magha’s invasion. This exposed the North, North-East, North-West and the East to outside invasion and trespassing. As a result, a very large number of people from Tamil Nadu came to Sri Lanka. To make matters worse, since 1505 to 1948 Sri Lanka’s Maritime Provinces were under European colonialists and they paid no regard to Lankan borders. Even mythical tales of an ancient Tamil kingdom in Sri Lanka don’t go beyond 1215 suggesting the enormous threat that emerged since Lankans gave up defending their North-East sea boundaries. Interestingly the landmass claimed as ‘Tamil homelands’ in Sri Lanka are areas closest to Tamil Nadu clearly suggesting strong Tamil Nadu influence and creation of the Tamil separatist movement. Even after Independence illegal migration from Tamil Nadu continued. Illegal migration was identified as the biggest threat to national security and national economy in the 1950s and remained so until late 1970s.

Scientific reasons for this are found in the disparities in the economy and population density. GDP per capita (nominal 2008) for Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu are $2,020 and $1,105 respectively. The difference is a huge 83% or $915. Population density of Tamil Nadu is a staggering 480 persons per square kilometre whereas it is 304 in Sri Lanka. The difference is 56%. These two factors drive poor people in Tamil Nadu to illegally migrate to Sri Lanka. At one point Tamil population excluding Muslims was over 26% of the population threatening to exacerbate existing problems.

There is another hidden dangerous development. As time passes Sri Lankans naturally integrate with each other and this harmonises the society. However, unhindered influx of people from Tamil Nadu reverses this process of natural integration by artificially and unsustainably increasing the Tamil population. This is evident from the censuses of 1971 and 1981. Though illegal immigrants were despatched in 1964 and 1974 back to Tamil Nadu, a large number of them managed to evade it. Sinhala and Muslim population growth rates from 1971 to 1981 were 20% and 26% respectively whereas the Indian Tamil population decreased by 30%. However, ‘Sri Lankan Tamils’ showed a massive increase of 33%. Surely this cannot be a natural increase. It is the result of ‘Indian Tamils’ becoming ‘Sri Lankan’ Tamils.

The war saw the emigration of 1.3 million Tamils. Though unintended this opened up better avenues for ethnic integration. It also reduced the bargaining power of racist political parties such as the TULF, TNA, ACTC and ITAK. Unless the borders are tight, the benefits of demographic changes that naturally eased tribal demands and aspirations over the past 30 years will not help Sri Lanka. It is a must in this regard to safeguard the coastline.

Those who are citizens of this country at the moment are equal citizens of Sri Lanka like any other; however, there should be no room for any more illegal immigrants. Major tasks of the Sri Lanka Coastguard would be to deter, prevent and detect illegal immigration from Tamil Nadu. Curbing illegal migration out of Sri Lanka will also be a task. Australia and Italy suffer unbearable influxes of Tamil illegal migrants from Sri Lanka. As such they would be keen to contribute to this project. It will benefit both parties.

It didn’t take long for drug dealers and illegal importers to exploit the illegal immigration channel between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu. By the early 1970s this illegal channel had grown into a multi-million rupee illegal import industry. Criminals also used this channel to escape Sri Lankan authorities. Before long, the Tamil separatist movement had detected this as a gold mine to launch their armed uprising. A very large number of guns, ammunition, bombs and other war material found their way to Sri Lanka’s north. It is not rocket science that an effective navy would have put a complete stop to the LTTE. LTTE leaders travelled to and from Vanni to Tamil Nadu while Tamil Nadu leaders travelled to Vanni without any fear. This fuelled the concept that ‘Tamil Elam’ and Tamil Nadu are a grand nation unhindered by Sri Lanka and India. Peaceful Tamil Elam circles refer to this as ‘Tamil demographic contiguity’. At one point LTTE could muster its control over 66% of Sri Lankan coastline and resources. After a long battle Sri Lankan claimed it’s coastline in 2009. Hard fought territorial victories must be protected. The Tamil Elam movement although homeless, is not dead. It is taking its time to launch the next round of terror. Sri Lanka Coastguard (SLC) along with the security forces must put up a formidable frontline against these elements.

Although coming under the Ministry of Defence, SLC will be manned by civil officers. Their tasks are not confined to defence. Preventing illegal fishing/gathering pearls in Sri Lankan waters is also a task that can be supported by the SLC. Protecting other Sri Lankan economic interests closer to shore will also fall on it. Although piracy is not common around the waters of the island, there is a strong possibility of it emerging as shipping volumes increase. SLC must keep a close watch over signs of trouble and swiftly move in with the navy to crush all attempts to introduce piracy in presently safe waters around the country.

If efficiently carried out, the tasks of the SLC will be able to deliver this once peaceful and prosperous nation from a 800 year old vicious cycle of ethnic disharmony, threats to sovereignty and violence. Severing unwanted, unchecked and non-state links with Tamil Nadu is the stepping stone to lasting peace.