Hambantota International port agreement with the Chinese company running the port is under high level review
In an effort to give an impression that Sri Lanka is a neutral country and
not aligned with China, a Senior member of the Rajapaksha government said they
are reviewing the lease agreement with the Chinese company for operating the
Hambantotal International port, situated in the southern tip of the island
nation.
Sri LankanMinister Namal Rajapaksha told the country's parliament that the
present regime is engaged in a dialogue with China to amend the agreeemeng on
Hambantota International Port, according to Sri Lankan media reports.
Minister Rajapaksa said this in response to SJB MP Kabir Hashim’s statement
that the present government is continuing the agreement which the previous
government got into with China to run the Hambantota Port.
Engaged in amending
all trade agreements which the previous regime got into the Minister said
“We are currently engaged in a dialogue with China to amend the Hambantota
Port agreement and are engaged in amending all trade agreements which the
previous regime got into,” the Minister said.
Minister Rajapaksa then questioned MP Hashim as to what had become of the
large amount of funds which the previous regime received as a result of signing
the agreement on the Hambantota Port.
Mr. Hashim said these funds were used to settle the borrowings made to
construct the Hambantota Port and the Airport.
