Sri Lanka refutes US claims of Chinese military base

14 March 2024 11:18 pm - 32 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka has refuted recent claims from US intelligence that there are potential plans for a Chinese military base to be established on its soil.

State Defence Minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon told Daily Mirror that Sri Lanka has not engaged in any discussions with foreign governments, including China, regarding the establishment of a military base within its borders.

“Sri Lanka has not held discussions with any foreign government including China for a possible establishment of a military base here in Sri Lanka,” the State Minister said in response to a question on the US claims.

In its annual threat assessment 2024 report this week, the US Intelligence Community said that China is exploring the possibility of establishing military facilities in various countries including Sri Lanka, in a bid to bolster their power projection capabilities and safeguard national interests.

"The US intelligence report on the possible establishment of a Chinese military base in Sri Lanka is inaccurate; we vehemently deny these claims," the minister said.

The State Minister has affirmed that Sri Lanka will not permit any foreign country to establish military bases within its borders under any circumstances.

The US report also stated, “Beyond developing its military base in Djibouti and its military facility at Ream Naval Base in Cambodia, Beijing reportedly is considering pursuing military facilities in multiple locations, including—but not limited to—Burma, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and the UAE”.

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Comments - 32

Gt Friday, 15 March 2024 12:27 AM

Then what are all these research ships coming?

Jeyasuriya , Ex Navy Friday, 15 March 2024 12:54 AM

Don’t blame the Americans it is the Indians who are feeding false accusations against Sri Lanka to the Americans.

Smh Friday, 15 March 2024 01:19 AM

Sri Lanka refutes everything. When it's too late they turn to US to bail them out.

wsw Friday, 15 March 2024 05:39 PM

Did the US bail us out during our darkest hour when the nation was on it's knees reeling from Indian orchestrated LTTE terror? Do you forget the role the Chinese played assisting us, during the war against Terrorists? Don't blame China for Sri Lanka's corrupt brainless leaders who sold Hambantota without blinking an eyelid.

Soothsayer Friday, 15 March 2024 01:58 AM

There is 'no smoke without fire'. Sri Lankan politicians are famous for saying and denying while the opposite is being done. If a foreign military base is established in Sri Lankan soil one can be certain it will be another Vietnam style decimation of the country.

Kevin Friday, 15 March 2024 02:26 AM

The next Chinese military base will come up in India.

GOTA Friday, 15 March 2024 08:56 PM

Really? China will be molten by that time......nuclear bombs will melt it....arsholes cant be happy with what you have....always thinking about others property.

Yan Yunk Friday, 15 March 2024 02:36 AM

But we have a hidden covert military operations in our country by the Yankees and a US military base not very far in Diego Garcia

European Friday, 15 March 2024 02:44 AM

Your State Minister is a lying bastard. But in democratic Sri Lanka the citizens elect the Ministers they want and therefore deserve.

Don Friday, 15 March 2024 02:57 AM

In this modern age, there is need of permanent military bases. For China it is a matter of docking two huge warships at Hambantota Port which is under their control legally. SL can protest but if China ignores it, nothing could be done. Being a poor bankrupt country thanks to idiotic politicians, we will be a pawn under the influence of all superpowers. Only way to get bargaining power is to get educated people elected to parliament and make this a developed country. It is a distant dream. Look at Gota’s book full of lies and wrong interpretation to divide nation racially. Villagers will believe this. It is time someone to go to court and prosecute him for deliberate promotion of racial division by writing something without facts. All involved in Aragalaya can give evidences. Destroy this repeated plan once for all.

Danny Friday, 15 March 2024 04:36 AM

Chinese are already here and in mufti. Lol

MFB Friday, 15 March 2024 06:06 AM

U.S. intelligence claims are similar to Iraq’s Weapons of Mass Destruction claim.

Spartacus Friday, 15 March 2024 06:24 AM

Mahinda will sell the country to China if the price for his pocket money is right. Hasn't he done that already?

Balla Donkey Friday, 15 March 2024 06:54 AM

Do not worry......Sri Lanka is every one military base like a prostitute!

dana Friday, 15 March 2024 06:59 AM

Current ruling politicians are group of people with no integrity,no proper policy their only wish is how to earn for themselves by hook or crook,as long as they are in power possibility is very high to allow foreigners to acquire this country for secret missions undercover of commercial agendas,they love to work with Chinese or Indians as they oil their palm well and keep those people unfriendly treacherous agreements secret,

Grace Friday, 15 March 2024 07:05 AM

Recently, our Tourism Minister told openly in India that Sri Lanka was a part of India. If so, will India allow China to set it's base on Indian soil ?

navratne willamune Friday, 15 March 2024 08:41 AM

Srilanka is a sovereign country. dont need to ask other nations , about what it does to defend the country

melville perea Friday, 15 March 2024 09:28 AM

scanning the world map it is easy to spot the ma ny military bases established by Unc.le Sam under charitable agreements tnis being bad enough his recent move is AUKUS to control the oceans. By comparison it is hard to find such bases at a glance by Russia, India, China and other such allies. History shows us how Uncle Sam re-acted over the Russian base in Cuba We are a registered non aligned nation and military vessels visiting us the more the merrier and entertaining In short Uncle Sam has lost his military might and globle cop prominence thats why he now resorts to POW WOW with the above developing nuclear powers His military might has failed in many countries

Jude Friday, 15 March 2024 09:35 AM

It's better-off allowing China to establish a Base here!! And get The consent of India.

Light Reader Friday, 15 March 2024 10:48 AM

The Government can refute the claims till they are BLUE in the face, but CHINA ALWAYS finds a WAY of getting their way stooping to the lowest acts and AGENDAS. WHY do you think the SOUTH has CHINESE crawling line grains of SEASAND, married into poor village families. I guess the CHINESE GOVT may have in some way funded their arrival into the country as TOURISTS, not forgetting the large numbers that came in as labourers to work on the projects they had funded, resulting in getting us throttled into a death trap.

Chinese Mole Friday, 15 March 2024 11:02 AM

How can we refute that Chinese have plans. Does our Minister work for the Chinese planning Department??

Balla Donkey Friday, 15 March 2024 11:21 AM

Do Sri Lanka know what is happening to them in Sri Lanka.

Punchi Friday, 15 March 2024 11:34 AM

US has got it wrong, China has a pseudo military base in Hambantota that can be upgraded to a fully functional base at a moments notice when the conflict with the US happens

A Friday, 15 March 2024 12:12 PM

Look who is talking. If US can have base in Philippines, Japan and all over why not China ???

saman Friday, 15 March 2024 01:34 PM

Premitha, then what about India's plans to make Sri Lanka a colony of India? We see the Indian High Commissioner laying it foundation and shown great interest in our country. Some of them are the Baharat Housing project in the up country, wind power exports etc. etc.

ANNECUNT Friday, 15 March 2024 01:40 PM

Chinese milatry base in Hambanthota given by Mr Basil Rajapaksa for commission

roobarbie Friday, 15 March 2024 02:33 PM

Initimidating US to get its foothold in SLK. Remember what Portuguese did in 1505. Keep the two tongued westerners out of our country. However with US citizens like Kaputa at the top of ruling pyramid the country's future may be doomed.

Nadi Karunaratne Friday, 15 March 2024 03:18 PM

What report, you have not identified where it was published, by whom, nor when. Just give us the basic details otherwise it might be considered hearsay. These simple journalistic principles matter.

sam Friday, 15 March 2024 04:30 PM

US intelligence cant be wrong

Narangoda Sinthipala Friday, 15 March 2024 05:02 PM

Rajapassa has already signed! People wait for the election results - next day if Gon Ballo wins!!

wsw Friday, 15 March 2024 05:31 PM

The US has over 700 military bases around the globe, so why not China? Although not ideal, at least we will be safe from those pesky Indians who orchestrated terrorism which sent our nation backwards for thirty years, the same Indians who foisted the provincial council curse upon us against our will.

UMAS ALI Friday, 15 March 2024 07:11 PM

Rajapaksas will do anything to get money into their pockets

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Sri Lanka refutes US claims of Chinese military base

Comments - 32

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