Navy advised to emphasize on anti-submarine warfare - PM  

Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe says Sri Lanka Navy has been advised to emphasize on anti-submarine warfare. According to him the number of shore patrol vessels are also being increased. 

Attending an event in Colombo today Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe said the Hambantota port is being given far more publicity than deserved in recent times due to claims that the port could become a Chinese naval base. “But the agreement with China Merchant is that the security of the Hambantota port will be with the Sri Lanka government and the Sri Lankan armed forces,” he said adding that this was accepted. The Prime Minister said the government has now taken steps to move the Naval Southern Command from Galle to Hambantota as well as a result. 

According to him, the Indo-pacific concept put forward by the USA is being seen by China as a mechanism to contain China in the Indian and Pacific Oceans thereby increasing its strategic vulnerability. According to him, Sri Lanka also appears to have become entangled in the issue due to partnerships with Chinese organizations for the construction of the Hambantota Harbour and the Port City. 

The Prime Minister said discussions are now being carried out with the India Airport Company for a Private Public Partnership between them and the Civil Aviation Authority to manage the Mattala international airport.  According to him, therefore, no one can accuse the government of handing over projects to only China.