China welcomes Govt. stance on Hambantota

Hambantota Port

China yesterday welcomed the clarification of the stance of the Government with regard to the Hambantota Port. 

In a statement the Chinese Embassy said it highly appreciated President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s remarks at a meeting with foreign correspondents on Thursday in this connection. 

“China is willing to guide relevant enterprises to work with the Sri Lankan side to expedite implementing the established agreement and further promote the prosperity and development of Hambantota Port,” the statement said.

“China reiterates once again that it highly respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. The security and control of Hambantota Port is entirely in the hands of the Sri Lankan Government and Navy, which is no any different from other ports in Sri Lanka,” it added.

On Thursday President Rajapaksa told foreign correspondents based in Colombo that the Sri Lankan government will not re-negotiate the existing agreement on Hambantota Port, and the commercial contract that has been signed will not be changed due to Government changes.