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Last Updated : 2024-04-29 10:29:00
19 December 2023 08:47 am - 14 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Colombo, Dec 19 (Daily Mirror) - Amid geopolitical strain, Sri Lanka has decided to have a one year moratorium in allowing foreign vessels in conducting research in the country’s territorial waters, a minister said.
The government has taken such a decision and communicated it to the relevant countries. The decision has been taken in the wake of China seeking permission to berth yet another research vessel in Sri Lanka’s waters in January, next year.
Chinese Survey and Research Vessel Shi Yan 6 docked at Sri Lanka's Colombo port in October despite India's objection and carried out research activities along with the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) on the water column of the Indian Ocean.
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry told Daily Mirror that the government had announced a twelve-month moratorium on research vessels from any country starting from January, next year.
“That is for us to do some capacity development so that we can participate in such research activities as equal partners,” he said.
Sri Lanka is also facing elections next year and seeking to act without antagonizing any country in its dealings with matters of geopolitical significance.
Besides, Sri Lanka has also evolved the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for foreign military vessels and aircraft arriving in the country. The minister said the guidelines set under the SOP had been sent all the countries that deployed their vessels to Sri Lankan waters during the last ten years.
John Stewart Tuesday, 19 December 2023 10:00 AM
That's a very good and well thought out move, which should reduce / minimise the geopolitical pressures that Sri Lanka does not need and certainly does not want.
Kethirina Tuesday, 19 December 2023 12:01 PM
This government know how to make excellent geopolitical decisions. We, as an indipendent nation should not have barriers to decide what our nation wants, for well being of our people. I congradulate our president and able FM for their courage of taking such bold decision dispite all the odds.
ROSH Tuesday, 19 December 2023 12:24 PM
These unimportant issues will come into the light just before election. We need to be careful of these tricks
BuffaloaCitizen Tuesday, 19 December 2023 12:31 PM
At least a good decision. This all started with Rajapakse's prostituting the nation to China in all direction.
Dilshan Tuesday, 19 December 2023 01:21 PM
Right now we have two wars and the Americans and Europeans are involved in both of them. How many wars the Chinese are involved in ? None, yet warmongering white countries portray China as a dangerous country, while calling themselves as peace loving democracies. Sri Lanka needs bold leaders who can tell the white man that his days are over and they can’t tell us anymore who we should allow into our own ports.
Ram Tuesday, 19 December 2023 01:50 PM
Good decision. India objected to the Chinese ships docking to gather information about India. US too was not happy. The two superpowers objecting our bosses would have succumbed
Ling Ho Tuesday, 19 December 2023 02:00 PM
CHINA MUST HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED HER RESEARCH AND COLLECTED ALL SECRETS IT WANTED ON THE EARLIER OCCASIONS. NOW THE REQUESTS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH MAY BE TO IRRITATE SRI LANKA AND INDIA.
Hadam Tuesday, 19 December 2023 02:13 PM
Very clever move if the government can stick to it. Its more to do with China than anyone else. The only way China can get closer to Indian territorial waters is via Sri Lanka.
Punchi Tuesday, 19 December 2023 03:26 PM
The proof is in the pudding, anyway China expects all its citizens - workers, students, tourists etc to collect intelligence for the country. China requires only small effort to install surveillance, monitoring and listening equipment on its merchant navy if not already in place - visiting Hambantota.
Patcitz Tuesday, 19 December 2023 04:41 PM
The same system of pause China must place on Sri Lanka giving financial assistance to Sri Lanka for at least one more year, up until the election is over to elect a leader under the people's mandate.
Rahman Abdul Wednesday, 20 December 2023 05:19 AM
The government has compromised our sovereignty as usual under the directions of Indians, if present policy is continued SL will not be a country after few years.
ANNECUNT Thursday, 21 December 2023 03:49 PM
THESE ARE NOT RESEARCH VESSELS THESE ARE SPY VESSELS ,I AM 100% POSITIVE CHINA ALSO SEND SPY BALOONS OVER UK AND USA
K R Suresh Thursday, 21 December 2023 06:00 PM
At last some good sense has prevailed. China has put Sri Lanka in a debt trap and is arm twisting it to be at its beck and call. It is time China is put in its place.
ANNECUNT Thursday, 21 December 2023 07:43 PM
THESE ARE SPY VESSELS
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