Lankan Prez in China, may take up ‘spy’ vessels with Xi

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake arrived here on Tuesday on a four-day visit during which he is scheduled to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders on deepening bilateral ties.

During his China visit, Dissanayake will hold bilateral talks with President Xi on areas of mutual interest and will also meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Zhao Leji.

Several Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and China are expected to be signed during the visit, the Presidential office press release said on Tuesday.

A host of issues, including permitting Chinese research vessels, regarded as spy ships by India; Sri Lanka’s debt commitments to China, stated to be Colombo’s largest creditor and expansion of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) investments are expected to figure in Dissanayake’s talks with Xi.

Sri Lanka would also seek Chinese assistance to complete the central expressway, which has been stalled for over a decade, the media division of the Sri Lanka President’s Office here said.