Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has dispelled concerns regarding Chinese research vessels docking in the country, assuring India that there are no espionage activities involved. In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Wickremesinghe addressed India’s apprehensions, stating that Sri Lanka is fully transparent in its interactions with China. He emphasized, “We are not doing anything secretive.”
When questioned about the possibility of these research vessels engaging in clandestine activities, Wickremesinghe responded, “I don’t know. We haven’t looked into that. We recommend the research.” Sri Lanka’s decision to lift the ban on foreign research vessels visiting its ports, effective from 2025, has been met with scrutiny. This ban was initially enforced due to security concerns raised by India and the United States, stemming from frequent docking requests by sophisticated Chinese surveillance vessels, as reported by media outlets.
President Wickremesinghe’s statement aims to reassure India and alleviate concerns about potential security risks arising from the presence of Chinese research vessels in Sri Lanka’s waters. This assurance is crucial given the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean region and the growing competition between India and China in the area.
