Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe categorically denied claims of allowing the Chinese to operate on the Hambantota port and reiterated that only the Sri Lanka Navy would control the security at the port.
Issuing a statement, the Prime Minister's Office said that " (they) would like to make following clarifications with regard to a news item that appeared in Print media regarding the Prime Minister’s speech made at the Dr. Saman Kelegama memorial conference held on 29.06.2018 in Colombo".
At this conference the Prime Minister stated that he negotiated with Prime Minister Li and President Xi of China and came up with a proposal which was beneficial for both parties. Sri Lanka also informed the Chinese that Hambantota cannot be used for military purposes.
"As far as the Hambantota port is concerned it will only be a commercial port which will trigger off much needed economic development of backward districts of Hambantota and Moneragala very soon", the statement further said.
Allaying any fears, the Prime Minister stated that the Sri Lanka Navy is moving its Southern Command to Hambantota.
"There is no need to be frightened as security of the port will be under the control of Sri Lanka Navy", the Prime Minister said.
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