Chinese spy ship in Lanka only for refuelling: Colombo

Sri Lanka has claimed that the Chinese military spy ship will visit Hambantota next week only to refuel days after India had launched a protest and raised the matter with no less than President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Close on the heels of the protest Wickremesinghe on Wednesday heaped praises on India for its assistance to address the crisis.

"I wish to specially mention the assistance provided by India, our closest neighbour, in our efforts for economic revitalization. The Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given us a breath of life. On behalf of my people and that of my own, I convey our gratitude to Prime Minister Modi, the Government and people of India,” the President told the country’s Parliament.


“When we tried to develop the oil tank complex in Trincomalee together with India, it was stated that Sri Lanka would be a sell out to India and this development project was halted. If at that time we were allowed to develop
the oil tank complex, today people would not have to spend many days in queues for fuel,” Wickremasinghe recalled.

The deal for Trincomalee oil tankers was finally concluded late last year.

“Even when the 'Suvasariya' ambulance service was initiated, a similar objection was raised. Some doctors held press conferences stating that "if the patient comes to the hospital by the 'Suvasariya' ambulance service, deaths will occur However we somehow initiated the 'Suvasariya' service and thereby thousands of lives have been saved,” the President rued.

Wickremasinghe also recalled how some quarters derailed Japan funded developments projects initiated by Shinzo Abe when he was the PM.

Meanwhile shipping data from Refinitiv Eikon showed the research and survey vessel Yuan Wang 5 was en route to Hambantota. China on its part said that it hoped "relevant parties" would refrain from interfering with its legitimate maritime activities.

Sri Lankan government spokesman Bandula Gunawardena on Monday said that the country’s cabinet discussed the ship's visit and that it would still be allowed to dock. "Both India and China are helping us at this very crucial time when we are facing an an unprecedented economic crisis," Gunawardena said. "The President (Ranil Wickremesinghe) informed the cabinet that this matter will be diplomatically resolved by talking to all sides. Both are important friends."

The vessel is to spend about a week at Hambantota taking in fuel and other supplies and will not undertake any work while in Sri Lankan waters, Gunawardena said. Yuan Wang 5 was stopping "only for bunkering", according to the Lankan government.

The military and strategic implications of Chinese spy ship ‘Yuan Wang 5’ in the Indian Ocean Region are manifold and will have major consequences for the Indian security architecture.

The ship has a distinct role in missile and satellite tracking and its presence in India’s neighbourhood has serious implications, ET had reported earlier. This vessel is lethal in its capabilities compared to Chinese submarines that were docked at Colombo port in 2014.

The aerial reach of the ship is more than 750 km and that would indirectly mean that Kalpakkam, Koodankulam, and the atomic research centre within Indian borders can be snooped upon. The ship can track ports of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. As many as six South Indian ports will be under China’s focus and the ship can gather information about vital installations along Southern India.