Is Sri Lanka moving away from the non-aligned movement?

COLOMBO (News 1st): Speaking on the SOFA Agreement with the US, Venerable Omalpe Sobhitha Thero claimed that the foundation of establishing an American military base in the country is almost complete. He continued to say that China, Japan and India may manipulate this situation to their own advantage and that the reason for all this is because the leaders of this country do not give enough priority to the national security. The Thero also claimed that the country's leaders present behaviour is a key determinant for the future of the country, further saying that Sri Lanka was a country that operated as a non-aligned nation from the beginning and that the country's principle was to carry on with it in the same manner without aligning to any power camp which is how they managed to assure the national security. He added that when the country aligns to one power camp we will have to face retaliation by the other camp. Sri Lanka breaking away from the non-aligned movement was highlighted when it abstained from voting at the UN last week on a motion condemning British occupation of Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean. Although Sri Lanka was a founding member of the non-aligned movement, it abstained from voting while the 120 members of the non-aligned movement voted against Britain. Chief Prelate of the Mihintale Rajamaha Viharaya Venerable Walahahangunawawe Dharmarathana Thero said that the mandate is with the people and that therefore the opportunity as to who leads will be decided by the people. He further questioned if the people had used their mandate just to let these leaders sell the national resources of the country also questioning if the people who claim new ownership of the natural resources through buying will use it to help the people of the country. The Thero added that the government should leave if they cannot protect the natural resources of the country without saving it for the future generations of the country.