Nothing against India will happen in Sri Lanka land, waters: Lanka Navy chief

NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka today assured India that neither will its land nor water around it be used for any activity against Indian interests, amid increased Chinese naval forays into the Indian Ocean.

"We assure the Indian government that nothing against India will happen in Sri Lankan land and waters around it," Sri Lankan Navy chief Vice Admiral R C Wijegunaratne said when asked about the docking of Chinese submarines there.

The Sri Lankan Navy chief is on an official visit to India from January 29 to February 2. The visit is aimed at consolidating bilateral naval relations between India and Sri Lanka as well as explore new avenues for naval cooperation.

Speaking to the media here, he asserted that Chinese presence in Sri Lanka was purely for economic reasons.

"We have also invited Indian firms," he said.

Wijegunaratne said security at the Colombo Port City (renamed Financial City) would be entrusted to the Sri Lankan Navy and not the Chinese as is being speculated.

He also hoped that training of Lankan defence personnel at the Defence Service Staff College at Wellington in Tamil Nadu will restart.

The Sri Lankan Navy chief held bilateral discussions with Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba and other senior officials.

He is also scheduled to meet the Chief of the Air Staff, Chief of the Army Staff as well as the Director General, Indian Coast Guard.

An interaction with the Minister of State for Defence and Defence Secretary has also been scheduled as part of the Sri Lankan Navy chief's official meetings in New Delhi.

The Admiral is also scheduled to proceed to Goa where he will be visiting Naval War College and Goa Shipyard Limited besides interacting with Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area.

He will further visit the Training Command of the Indian Navy based at Kochi, where he would be briefed on training aspects and visit various training facilities/professional schools.

During his visit to Kochi, Wijegunaratne would interact with Sri Lankan Naval personnel undergoing training in India.