India expects Sri Lanka to keep security concerns in mind regarding Hambantota

New Delhi: India says it continues to take up its security concerns with Sri Lanka and expects the Sri Lankan Government to keep New Delhi’s security concerns and sensitivities in mind with regard to development in the neighbourhood.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar, responding to a question on Sri Lanka handing over operational control of its southern port of Hambantota to China, said India was confident about the strength of its ties with Sri Lanka regarding regional developments.

“Regarding Hambantota we are actually confident about the strength and enduring nature of our ties with Sri Lanka which are deep-rooted and multi-dimensional.”

He said New Delhi’s relations with Sri Lanka stood on their own and were not dependent on India’s relations with any third country.

“We continue to take up with Sri Lanka issues related to the security concerns in the region and expect that our Sri Lankan friends will keep in mind our security concerns and sensitivities,” the spokesperson said.

Sri Lanka last week signed a share ownership agreement with China on the Hambantota Port formally handing over operation of port to the state-owned China Merchants Port Holdings Company (CMPort) on a 99-year lease.