Colombo: The Chinese scientific research vessel ‘Yuan Wang 5’ arrived at the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka
on Tuesday morning amid concerns raised by India.
Sri Lanka on Saturday granted permission to the Chinese “research and survey” ship to dock at Hambantota from August 16 to 22.
India last month raised security concerns over the presence of the ship close to the Indian coast.
Sri Lanka on August 5 asked China to defer the arrival of the ship — initially scheduled to dock at Hambantota from August 11 to 16 — till further consultations. China then told India not to interfere in its dealings with Sri Lanka.
Yuan Wang 5 was built in 2007 and has a carrying capacity of 11,000 tonnes.
The Hambantota port, located around 250 km from Colombo, was built with high-interest Chinese loans. The Sri Lankan government struggled to repay the debt it had taken from China following which the port was handed over to the Chinese on a 99-year lease. (UNI)