Colombo : Debt-ridden Sri Lanka’s agriculture minister last week announced the export of 100,000 monkeys to China, the country’s biggest bilateral creditor. According to minister Mahinda Amaraweera, the aim is to rid Sri Lanka of local tokay macaques, or common monkeys, which are causing trouble for farmers by destroying crops. However, the export of monkeys to China has been opposed by environmentalists and animal rights activists. He says that a comprehensive study is needed before doing so. There has been no census of monkeys in the country in 40 years.
Leading environmental rights activist Jagat Gunawardena has called for clarity and transparency on plans to export animals that are not protected species in Sri Lanka but are on the international red list of endangered animals. He said, “We want to know why China wants so many monkeys. He should tell whether he will use them for meat, medical research or for any other purpose.
Environmentalists and animal rights activists are against monkey trade with China. They also suspect China’s donkey business with Pakistan. Last October, China announced that it was keen to import donkeys and dogs from cash-strapped Pakistan like Sri Lanka. Donkeys are used there in Chinese traditional medicine “Eijao”. Apart from this, gelatin is also manufactured from donkey skin. The donkey is believed to have medicinal properties.
The activists’ protests seem justified because business with China is treated with suspicion unlike any other country. No financial details of a possible monkey export to China were immediately disclosed by either party. China has also invested in Sri Lanka’s international airport, port, highway, etc. projects. But they are not getting any benefit. These projects have become white elephants. Now the question is being asked that what has Sri Lanka gained by being the biggest debtor of Beijing. There is no proper answer for this.
Two other Asian giants this week, Japan and India, along with France, announced a common platform for talks between bilateral creditors to coordinate Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring. However, China announced last month that it would provide debt relief to the island nation for 2022 and 2023 in line with the IMF bailout program. Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki has also invited China to a forum to be set up for debt relief. He said it would be great if China would join in.”
In response to the Japanese Finance Minister’s request, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman reiterated Sri Lanka’s extension of the line of credit. “Sri Lanka will not have to repay the principal and interest of the bank’s (Exim Bank of China) loans during the above-mentioned period to help Sri Lanka relieve short-term debt repayment pressure,” a Beijing spokesperson said. The proposed platform and other debt restructuring measures are needed for Sri Lanka to secure a $2.9 billion bailout package and begin repayment of about $6 billion annually by 2029.
The major countries that launched the platform hope it will be a model for solving the debt burden of middle-income countries. But it is uncertain whether China will join the historic initiative. Japan’s top currency diplomat Masato Kanda said the group has sent invitations to all bilateral creditors of Sri Lanka, including China, and hopes to hold the first round of talks at the earliest.
India stood by Sri Lanka throughout the crisis, playing an important historical role in supporting its southern neighbour. Despite Sri Lanka playing the China card on several occasions, ignoring India and Japan, India was the first to notify the IMF for debt relief assistance to Sri Lanka.
Acting in this spirit, last week Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced India’s commitment to help Sri Lanka deal with the economic crisis while attending a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings. Sitharaman stressed that cooperation among creditors is important to ensure transparency and equality in dealing with all creditors in debt restructuring discussions.
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