Govt. denies claims China sidelined

The Government yesterday denied claims that it had decided to sideline China.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maheshini Colonne recalled that after the new Government took office, President Maithripala Sirisena and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera had visited China, so no one could say that China was being sidelined.

“Actions speak louder than words,” the spokesperson said at a weekly press briefing held at the Foreign Ministry. She also said that the new Government was keen to engage with the international community. Since the new Government has taken office several Chinese-funded projects have been suspended, pending investigations into the deals which initiated them.

One such project is a mega port city in the capital Colombo which the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said was still being reviewed by a committee appointed by the Government.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had earlier said that the port city project would benefit Sri Lanka and so it should resume.

Rajapaksa had claimed that the new Government was attempting to take political revenge on him by suspending the deals his Government signed with China.