Lanka says it will not allow docking of Chinese submarines

Beijing, February 28

Sri Lanka today said it would not allow Chinese submarines to dock in its ports, a move apparently aimed at allaying India's concerns.

"I really don't know under what sort of circumstances the submarines came to Colombo on the same day when Japanese Prime Minister (Shinzo Abe) visited Sri Lanka but we will ensure such incidents from which ever quarter do not happen during our tenure," Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said addressing a press conference here.

Samarweera, who held talks with Premier Li Keqiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his two-day visit, said Sri Lanka has some concerns over USD 5 billion of Chinese investments obtained during former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's regime.

All issues will be discussed after the current review of the projects being conducted by the government, he said. A high-level Sri Lankan team will visit China later to discuss the issues with the Chinese government, Samaraweera said.

A Chinese submarine had visited Colombo port twice last year, raising India’s concerns.

Samaraweera is the first Sri Lankan official to visit Beijing since Rajapaksa's defeat in the January polls.

Samaraweera's visit to China will be followed by new Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's trip next month. — PTI