Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe reiterated that there was no military agreement with China and that he would not allow the island nation to be used as a base for any threat against India.
“We are a neutral country, but we also emphasise on the fact that we cannot allow Sri Lanka to be used as a base for any threat against India," President Wickremsinghe said in an interview with French media.
When inquired about China’s presence in Sri Lanka, especially militarily, Wickremsinghe responded “We have no military agreement with China; there won't be any military agreements, and I do not think China will enter into one,”
The President went on to say that the Chinese have been there for about 1,500 years and so far there has been no military base.
He said that there were speculations about the China-run Hambantota harbour which he admitted that it "has been given out to China Merchants, but its security is controlled by the Sri Lankan government".
"The Southern Naval Command will be shifted to Hambantota,” he reassured.
“There has certainly been no issue of military use by the Chinese. The same company also runs a terminal in Colombo harbour, in the South Port. That’s where all the warships come from all the countries.
"No one is complaining about the terminal in Colombo, but they are only complaining about the Hambantota Port,” he added.
Goyal assures deeptech startups of big push from Rs 10,000 crore Fund
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced on Saturday that the government will provide a substantial outlay for deeptech startups from the Rs 10,000 crore Fund of Funds scheme.
Fresh tension in Manipur; village chiefs among 10 assaulted by militants
Fresh tension broke out between two tribal communities in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Saturday after at least 10 people, including two key village leaders, were allegedly assaulted by suspected Kuki militants over a land dispute, officials said.
Gandhis 'abandoned' Muslims in Waqf Bill debate: Amit Malviya slams Rahul, Priyanka's absence
The absence of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the heated debate on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha drew criticism from the BJP, which accused them of neglecting the Muslim community that they often claim to ‘advocate for’.
Tripura hosts first ever Bipul Charu and Karu Kala Utsav in Agartala
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Saturday inaugurated the first ever three days long Bipul Charu and Karu Kala Utssav – Arts and Crafts festival here in Agartala Government College of Art and Craft. The festival was named after the pioneer of modern sculpture in the state Bipul Kanti Saha.
Police detains one with brown sugar, yaba tablets worth over Rs 2 lakh from Agartala
Police of West Agartala police station and Battala outpost on Friday last detained one youth and seized narcotic items worth over Rs 2 lakh.
CM pays surprise visit to IGM, directs to ensure no gaps in patient care
Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha today paid a surprise visit to IGM Hospital and Agartala Government Dental College and directed all staff and doctors to ensure that there is no gap in the treatment of patients.
Sudip writes CS demanding Child Care Leave for Contractual women Govt employees
Senior Congress leader and MLA Sudip Roy Barman has written to Tripura Chief Secretary Jitendra Kumar Sinha, urging the state government to extend Child Care Leave (CCL) benefits to women working under contractual arrangements in various departments.
PM Modi pays tribute at Indian Peace Keeping Force Memorial in Sri Lanka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited and laid a wreath at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) Memorial in Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, near Colombo, on Saturday evening.