Colombo, December 20 (newsin.asia): China has made it clear that the Sri Lankan navy is in-charge of security at the Hambantota port as indeed it is at the other ports of Sri Lanka.
“China reiterates once again that it highly respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. The security and control of Hambantota Port is entirely in the hands of the Sri Lankan Government and Navy, which is no any different from other ports in Sri Lanka, ” a press release from the Chinese embassy here on Friday.
China’s assertion came in the wake of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s telling foreign correspondents resident in Colombo on Thursday that he is worried about the security aspect of the 2017 agreement with the Chinese company running the port, and that he proposes to examine the security aspect, to perhaps add two or three clauses to it.
The President said that the Lankan government would like to control the entry and exist of ships because this function is part and parcel of border control which is a prerogative of the government.
The President, however, made it abundantly clear, that the government would not re-negotiate the commercial aspect of the 2017 agreement, including the 99-year lease of the port to the Chinese company CMPort.
President Gotabaya said that he had expressed his concerns about the security aspect of the agreement at his meeting with the Chinese special envoy who had met him recently. According to the President the special envoy had endorsed his concerns.
Chinese Statement In Full
Friday’s press release from the Chinese embassy said: “China reiterates once again that it highly respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. The security and control of Hambantota Port is entirely in the hands of the Sri Lankan Government and Navy, which is no any different from other ports in Sri Lanka.”
“On December 19, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, at a meeting with the Foreign correspondents based in Colombo, had made it clear that the Sri Lankan government will not re-negotiate the existing agreement on Hambantota Port, and the commercial contract that has been signed, will not be changed due to government changes.”
“The Chinese side highly appreciates the remarks and is willing to guide relevant enterprises to work with the Sri Lankan side to expedite implementing the established agreement and further promote the prosperity and development of Hambantota Port.”
“China reiterates once again that it highly respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. The security and control of Hambantota Port is entirely in the hands of the Sri Lankan Government and Navy, which is no any different from other ports in Sri Lanka.”
