In an interview with the Indian agency FirstPost, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed the nation’s openness to hosting research and exploration vessels from any country, including China. Responding to the recent port calls by China’s Yuan Wang 5 and Shi Yan 6, President Wickremesinghe emphasized that there is no evidence to categorize these vessels as spy ships.
Addressing concerns about the nature of the ships, he stated, “Determining what constitutes a spy ship is a significant question mark. These are civilian vessels. If there are legitimate issues or if there are actual spy ships, we will not permit their entry. However, in terms of exploration, we welcome not only Chinese ships but vessels from other nations as well. It’s essential to note that other ships routinely visit Sri Lanka, although this often goes unnoticed.”
President Wickremesinghe also highlighted the disproportionate attention Chinese ships receive, stating, “Each time a Chinese ship arrives, it garners significant publicity. However, when a research vessel from another country visits, it tends to be overlooked.”
Furthermore, he announced Sri Lanka’s plans to establish its own hydrographic unit and acquire indigenous ships, asserting, “We are working towards developing our own capabilities, enabling us to conduct surveys in the vicinity of India and China. This initiative will provide us with the independence to pursue research and exploration endeavors.”
