As the US, India and China compete for influence over Sri Lanka’s energy sector, Russia has reiterated its interest in establishing a nuclear power plant in the country. The Russian ambassador to Sri Lanka recently stated that he hopes to discuss the proposal with the Minister of Power in the future. Moscow first put forward the plan during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government. Russia may have assumed it would be easier to move forward with a leftist JVP administration than with the pro-American Ranil government. However, Anura Kumara declined the initial invitation from the Russian President to attend the BRICS summit in Russia, undermining Moscow’s expectations of his government.
The relationship between Russia and the JVP dates back to the early years of the party’s leadership. In 1960, Rohana Wijeweera applied for a scholarship to study medicine at the Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University in Moscow, with the support of a Communist Party leader. In 1963, he fell ill and was hospitalised. Doctors in Moscow advised him that his health was not suited to continuing his studies and recommended rest. However, some leftist parties later alleged that he had attempted to challenge Soviet ideology while in Russia, which prompted the Soviet authorities to deport him.
On his return to Sri Lanka, Wijeweera developed a strong animosity towards Soviet communism and instead began to promote Chinese communist ideology in the country.
Wijeweera’s hostility to Soviet communism may also have been shaped by the Soviet Union’s close relationship with other leftist parties in Sri Lanka. Moscow supported the government of Sirimavo Bandaranaike during the 1971 JVP rebellion and also provided funding to leftist parties during elections.
It is unclear whether the JVP’s suspicion of Russia today stems from Wijeweera’s experiences. The main rivals of Wijeweera and the JVP were the leftist parties backed by the Soviet Union. For this reason, the JVP has historically been closer to China than to Russia. The current JVP government may also feel it is wiser to keep Moscow at arm’s length rather than risk angering Washington by aligning too closely with it.
