Decision to lease Hambantota port to China was a 'mistake', confesses Sr

Colombo: Jayanath Colombage, Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary, accepted that giving the Hambantota port to China was a big mistake. But Foreign Secretary Colambage asserted that henceforth, the Sri Lankan foreign policy would be India centric. Colambage also assured that Sri Lanka would not carry out any acts that will threaten Indian security. He reassured India during an interview with a Sri Lankan news agency. This is the second major salvo of criticism, fired by the newly formed Mahinda Rajapaksa government, at China, in the last one month.

Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary assured that India would have a preference in the Sri Lankan foreign policy. Henceforth, Sri Lanka will not be a threat to India. No other country will be allowed to use the Sri Lankan wealth. Colambage added further that the preference given to India is under the orders of the Sri Lankan President. We cannot depend on one country for economic development; Sri Lanka needs India.

Colambage was the chief of Sri Lankan navy from 2012 to 2014. He is also known to be a student of Sri Lankan foreign policy. In 2017, Sri Lanka leased the Hambantota port to China for 99 years. India had expressed concerns over the development. China was planning to build a military base using this port. But after the grip of the Chinese debts tightened, Sri Lanka made changes to its policies regarding China. Currently, the Chinese company holds 85% stake in the port. Sri Lanka has reprimanded China that the port has been given to China for commercial use and it should not be used for military purposes. In short, Sri Lanka wants to assure India that the port will not be used against India.

The Sri Lankan policies were pro-China when Mahinda Rajapaksa was the President. He was known as a leader who detested India. It is said that the policies of Rajapaksa changed after the increase in the Chinese debt burden and the collapse of the economy. Moreover, Rajapaksa has started feeling that Indian cooperation was necessary to counter the terror attacks in Sri Lanka. Therefore, Rajapaksa has given importance to India after assuming power again.

After taking over the reins in Sri Lanka, Rajapaksa underlined the importance of the bilateral cooperation by calling the Indian Prime Minister first. Not only this, Gotabaya Rajapaksa indicated that India would be the priority in the Sri Lankan foreign policy by selecting India for his first foreign visit after taking oath as President of Sri Lanka. While China is trying to entice the Indian neighbours to join hands with it, this India-Sri Lanka cooperation becomes extremely important.