Pathfinder Foundation launches ‘Samudra Manthan’ Sinhala translation

The first copies of ‘Samudura Kelambuma’, the Sinhala translation of Dr. Raja C. Mohan’s ‘Samudra Manthan: Sino-Indian Rivalry in the Indo-Pacific’, published by the Pathfinder Foundation, were handed over to a group of former senior diplomats, at a ceremony held at Cinnamon 
Grand recently.

Some of the diplomats had represented Sri Lanka in New Delhi.

The chief guest at this event was Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who inaugurated the event by lighting the traditional oil lamp. 

Speaking at the event, Bernard Goonetilleke said that Sri Lankans should be aware of the dangers associated with conflicts involving big powers in their neighbourhood and it is for that reason, the Pathfinder Foundation decided to translate ‘Samudra Manthan’, so that the local people would have a better understanding of what is going on in their neighbourhood.

Citing a tale from Hindu mythology - Samudra Manthan or ‘Churning the Ocean’ - Dr. Mohan relates the story of the Sino-Indian rivalry spilling over from the Great Himalayas into the Indian and Pacific Oceans. 

He examines the prospects for mitigating tensions and constructing a stable Indo-Pacific order. The United States of America, the dominant military power in the Indian Ocean region, is being drawn into the unfolding Sino-Indian competition. 

Despite the huge differences in the current naval capabilities of China, India and the United States, Dr. Mohan argues that the three countries are locked in a triangular struggle that would eventually mould the future of the Indo-Pacific.

The India-Sri Lanka Foundation supported the translation of the book and its publication. 
Dr. Mohan presented the book to former ambassadors G. Wijayasiri, John Gooneratne, H.M.G.S. Palihakkara, K. Godage and Ananda Goonesekera as well as to Dr. Pinnawala, who helped to edit the book and Sunethra Siriwardena, who translated Samudra Manthan to Sinhala. 

Indo-Lanka Initiatives and Centre for Law of the Sea Director Admiral Dr. Jayanath Colombage, Pathfinder Foundation Executive Director and China-Sri Lanka Cooperation Studies Centre Director Luxman Siriwardena were associated with the book launching event.