Sri Lanka has allowed some construction work at the suspended USD 1.5 billion Port City Project to save its existing structure from sea erosion ahead of a visit by President Maithripala Sirisena here for candid talks on bilateral ties.
"As far as we have learnt the Sri Lankan government has approved resumption of the construction of breakwater of the Colombo port," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters here today while responding to a question whether Colombo has informed Beijing about the construction of a breakwater at the project site.
In Colombo, Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne said that the decision was taken following a request by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe when the cabinet convened for its weekly meeting yesterday.
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The entire project had been suspended by the new government which took office in January after concerns were raised over some aspects of the project.
Hong said China believes that "the Sri Lankan side will properly deal with relevant issues to safeguard their own interests as well as the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and create sound conditions for the mutual benefit of cooperation between China and Sri Lanka."
Earlier, Hong announced the visit of Sirisena to China to take part in the annual Boao Forum for Asia.
The new Sri Lankan President will be visiting along with Presidents and Prime Ministers of 13 other nations to take part in the four-day event to be held in the Chinese island of Sanya starting from May 26.
During his visit here the new Sri Lankan President, whose government has changed the dynamics of pro-China policies pursued by the previous Mahinda Rajapaksa regime, is expected to discuss the fate of USD five billion loans extended by China which his government said was taken at exorbitant rates.
Primary focus of his talks with the Sri Lankan President would be the fate of the Colombo Port City projects which was suspended by the new government over concerns of corruption of and adverse environmental impact as it is being built on reclaimed land.
The project key to Xi's multi billion Maritime Silk Road project implementation in the Indian Ocean raised hackles locally as the China Communications Construction Co (CCCC) would get 108 hectares of the 233 hectares project on freehold basis and the rest on a 99-year lease, according to media reports.
State-run Xinhua report from Colombo today quoted Sri Lanka's Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Arjuna Ranatunga as saying that that approval had been given to allow part of the project to continue in order to prevent damage from heavy rains and sea erosion.
He further said that the Prime Minister had asked for the necessary reports and documents over the Port City to be submitted to the sub committee soon in order to decide the future of the project.
"Only once the necessary documents are submitted will the Prime Minister decide on the future of the project," Ranatunga said.
