Govt. denies Chinese claims on Port City resumption
Saturday, 28 March 2015 01:44
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Government yesterday denied reports that President Maithripala Sirisena had given China an assurance that the controversial Port City project would be allowed to resume.
Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith Perera said that while the matter had been discussed between the President and Chinese officials during his ongoing visit to the country, there was no assurance given that the project would be allowed to resume soon.
The Reuters news agency reported yesterday that Sri Lanka’s visiting President had promised work would resume on a controversial Chinese-backed port development project in Colombo that his administration had earlier suspended.
Citing a lack of Government approval, Sri Lanka halted the $ 1.4 billion port city project, straining ties with its biggest investor. China defended the project saying it was in line with local laws and any cancellation would deter foreign investors.
The Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs in China, Liu Jianchao was quoted as saying that President Maithripala Sirisena had told Chinese President Xi Jinping that work would resume after problems were sorted out.
However, Perera said that he had spoken with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera after the news report had appeared and he was told that no such assurance had been given. (Colombo Gazette)
