No military activity in Sri Lankan ports: PM

13 April 2017 08:33 am - 18 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka will make sure no military activity is conducted at its ports, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said in Tokyo on Wednesday as China invests heavily in roads and harbours in the country, the Reuters reported.

“Sri Lanka hopes to become the regional hub of the Indian Ocean again,” Mr. Wickremesinghe told a joint news conference following a meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe.

“We want to ensure that we develop all our ports, and all these ports are used for commercial activity, transparent activity, and will not be available to anyone for any military activity.”

Mr. Wickremesinghe had not mentioned any specific countries. China’s investments in transportation infrastructure in Sri Lanka are considered part of its ambitions to build maritime routes to the oil-rich Middle East and on to Europe.

This development, Reuters said, makes some countries, including India and the United States, nervous.

Sri Lanka sits near shipping lanes through which much of the world’s trade passes on its way to China and Japan.

“The era of the Indo-Pacific is now being ushered in. Yet, however, true regional prosperity cannot come into being without the realisation of a free and open Indo-Pacific. To make this happen, it is indispensable for Sri Lanka to achieve sustainable growth as a hub, and develop ports that are open to all,” Abe said.

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Comments - 18

lankan Thursday, 13 April 2017 10:23 PM

Give Colombo port to Japan, Trinco port to India and Hambantota port to Chinese, no one in South Asia will complain.

seqi Saturday, 15 April 2017 08:28 PM

Japanese know well that Hambantota port was built to military specifications....... via DM Android App

seqi Saturday, 15 April 2017 03:29 PM

not true....Sri Lanka Air force and LTTE Airwing have bombed us since Japans effort. via DM Android App

kamal Friday, 14 April 2017 12:23 PM

@James..get out of WW II era..Japan is the only country which got nuked by America but both country moved on. Srilanka should do the same.

james Friday, 14 April 2017 11:37 AM

Japan helped us financially because our government helped them to get out of UN sanctions after the world war. They were eternally thankful for that and thats why they they help us so much. But why should we grantee them about military activities in our water? Only country which bombed us during WW2 is Japan remember that.

tripletee Friday, 14 April 2017 08:09 AM

When political leadership works without a vision and a strategy it is obvious they fall pray to others strategy. Sri Lanka is a classic example. Hambantota was initially identified as a port in China's "Pearls of the String" strategy, to secure an uninterrupted sea route for their energy needs sourced from middle east. Mattala Airport, Port City are bonuses offered to them by the pure chintanaya oriented politicians. Now country has to generate sufficient income to repay the loans. Sri Lanka should make good use of its middle power role not playing one country against the other

lies Friday, 14 April 2017 07:44 AM

Sri Lanka big man stop lying the public. Youay lie sometime but always.The lies are going for some times. There are foreign investments but where the returns.

Analyst Friday, 14 April 2017 03:39 AM

Beggars tilting at wind mills,all talk no solutions offered to solve 9000 million dollar debt and where one family has made billions

JOHN.James Friday, 14 April 2017 02:35 AM

I think you folks forget, The West, India and Japan give you lot money. the China government LOAN YOU Money,at great interest!! After all WHO built the port in the south? Airport in the south? nice kick backs, ON loans at 8/10% ?????? Now they buy it back, sounds like a good deal...Wake up...

Roaring Creek Thursday, 13 April 2017 08:58 AM

The Sri Lanka government gives a port for a 99 years lease with a possibly of another 99 years. Does he think the Japanese are jokers too to believe what he says. Even we do not believe.

Kamal Thursday, 13 April 2017 09:38 PM

To my Srilankan Friend..Don't play this game of putting one country against another. Remember old saying ...when elephant fight its grass which suffer..Don't want Srilanka to get caught in crossfire. China and India both are nuclear country and few N bombs(even by mistake) will make Srilanka a graveyard.

Roaring Creek Thursday, 13 April 2017 08:54 PM

The last doctoral regime gave it on a sliver platter. The present democratic regime is offing it with a golden spoon. Ha Ha Ha!

Gana Thursday, 13 April 2017 07:16 PM

Only India is crying because they want to dominate us

JAN Thursday, 13 April 2017 01:39 PM

Who says thers is NO military activities Remember there is Ways No Body knows What is happening in N around Greedy of power via DM Android App

ANTON Thursday, 13 April 2017 10:22 AM

TO MY MIND , THE MOST NOTEWORTHY PLANS THEY HAVE BEEN FORMULATING SO FAR ARE THE " TRAVEL PLANS"

vicky Thursday, 13 April 2017 09:46 AM

Other than Indians the Japanese have never complained about military presence at SL ports

Tom Thursday, 13 April 2017 09:42 AM

Name suites him well - Roaring Creek, in dream land - Dictatorial regime gave it on a silver platter.

Roaring Creek Thursday, 13 April 2017 09:27 AM

That explains this visit to Japan. It is not about investment. It is to assure the Japanese government that the sea lanes through Sri Lanka will not be controlled by the Chinese. As we know, Japan does not like this. This visit was nothing about bring investment to Sri Lanka. The Japanese companies will never invest in Sri Lanka with the present political and economic condones, specially the Chinese influents namely the Port City and the Hambanthota Port.

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No military activity in Sri Lankan ports: PM

Comments - 18

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