Sri Lanka is in talks with both China and India to “reach an amicable solution” with regard to the impending docking of China’s ‘Yuan Wan 5’ class tracking vessel at the Hambantota International Port, authoritative sources told the Sunday Times. Clearance to anchor the vessel was granted by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the [...]

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Yuan Wan 5 at Hambantota port: Lanka seeks amicable solution with China and India

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Sri Lanka is in talks with both China and India to “reach an amicable solution” with regard to the impending docking of China’s ‘Yuan Wan 5’ class tracking vessel at the Hambantota International Port, authoritative sources told the Sunday Times.

Clearance to anchor the vessel was granted by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority several weeks ago, before Ranil Wickremesinghe took office as President, the sources said. The vessel is on schedule to dock at Hambantota on August 11.

However, India is “not happy” with the move, they confirmed, adding that discussions were ongoing. This week, India’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Arindam Bagchi told the weekly media briefing: “The Government carefully monitors any developments having  a bearing on India’s security and economic interests, and takes all necessary measures to safeguard them. I think that should be a clear message.”

Sri Lanka will have to manage the situation at a time when the government is poised to start debt restructuring talks. India and China are two of the biggest creditors and their cooperation
is crucial.

The Belt & Road Initiative
Sri Lanka (BRISL) first published on its website that the Chinese scientific research vessel ‘Yuan Wang 5’ will enter the Hambantota port on August 11 for a week. BRISL calls itself “an education and consulting platform that specialises in cultural, business and technological cooperation” under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

The ship is scheduled to leave on August 17 after replenishment it said, adding that, “The Yuan Wang 5 will conduct Space tracking, satellite control and research tracking in the North-Western part of the Indian Ocean region through August and September.”

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