India and China have continued to jostle with each in trying to take the lead in development and infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the weekend, two new investments were announced by both regional superpowers: India has proposed a solar power park<\/a> while China secured a deal to introduce a smart card system<\/a> for train stations in Sri Lanka. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Both investments have piqued general interest and debate since announcement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It was in February that the Ministry of Transport Management first announced <\/a>a smart card for quick train travel and an e-ticketing system for seat reservations would be introduced in the near future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, five months since, the contract for the project has been granted to a Chinese firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The e-ticketing system is expected to enable local and foreign tourists book tickets more efficiently, and to also eliminate the chance of selling tickets at higher prices by third parties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is collaborating with the government to set up the e-ticketing system, the Ministry of Transport Management said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, India\u2019s livemint <\/a>reported that India had agreed to set up a solar power park in Sri Lanka. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Quoting anonymous sources, the report suggests that NTPC Ltd\u2014one of India’s largest power generation utility companies\u2014plans to commence work on the project under the supervision of International Solar Alliance (ISA). <\/p>\n\n\n\n The ISA is an alliance of 121 countries, led by India. It is the result of a 2015 proposal by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to endorse clean energy, sustainable environment, public transport and climate. Sri Lanka is a signatory and has ratified the framework<\/a> of the ISA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the livemint report<\/a>, the proposed solar park comes on the heels of NTPC Ltd\u2019s 2011 plan to establish a coal power plant project in Trincomalee, which was eventually scrapped<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The company has established similar projects in Gambia and Malawi<\/a> to develop solar power parks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n China has been the largest investor in Sri Lanka, with funding and investments surpassing USD 15 billion<\/a> since the end of the civil war in 2009. The country’s flagship projects are the Hambantota Port Development<\/a> and the Colombo Port City Project<\/a>, both strategically located on the global sea trade routes classified as integral investments under China\u2019s Belt and Road Initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSmart Card For Trains<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Indian Solar Power Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\nBad Blood<\/h2>\n\n\n\n