Seeking to assuage India's unease over the Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka today said it would ensure that New Delhi's concerns were "not jeopardised" and that talks were on the development of the Trincomalee port.
Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2017, Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lankan Minister for Regional Development, said Trincomalee is the deepest harbour in South Asia and "things are being finalised" with India to develop the port.
He said that after China constructed the Hambantotoa port, it was not making any profit and became a burden to repay the money back. Total estimated construction cost of the Phase 1 of the project is USD 361 million and is largely funded by the EXIM Bank of the People's Republic of China.
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He said since it was becoming a "huge burden" on the economy to repay the Chinese, Sri Lanka started looking after investors that can take the harbour on lease and give a helping hand to cut down payments of debts.
"So finally with the Chinese company (China Merchants Ports Holding Company)...They were the best bidders, we decided to give it on lease. But this was mainly for commercial purpose.
"There won't be any security threat (to India) and it even won't upset the Indian sentiments. At the same time, India should not get worried over it because there are preparations being done for India to develop the Trincomalee harbour. We are trying to convert it harbour as a naval base and a commercial base," Fonseka said.
Reacting to protests against the Hambantotoa port, he said some "disgruntled political elements" are behind it.
He said that the presence of Chinese submarines and naval ships in Sri Lankan waters is a matter of concern for India.
"They have the right to be concerned being a regional power. So, sometimes for training purpose we have had our defence forces communicating with other militaries in the world. So this presence of submarines and warships is for training purpose and not for any defence activity.
"We will ensure that their presence will only be for training purpose and that Indian security concerns are not jeopardised," Fonseka said.
Fonseka said there was "no way" Sri Lanka wanted to upset Indian sentiments. He, however, maintained that its intention was to stay neutral and not get involved in power struggle between India and China.
"India is our neighbour and there is no way we will upset the Indian sentiments. We want to maintain highest relationship with India. At the same time, we also have a historical relationship with China. Our intention is to remain neutral without getting into clashes of the big powers," he said.
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A former military chief who led the Sri Lankan army in a decisive battle against terrorist outfit LTTE, Fonseka is the only five star general the island country has seen.
He was thrown into jail after he unsuccessfully tried to challenge a re-election bid by the then president Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2010.
Responding to a question on Sri Lankan military officers being trained at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington in Tamil Nadu and subsequent protests over it by the Dravidian parties, Fonseka said, "There have been difference of opinion and certain politicians have been trying to take advantage of the difficult situation."
"It does not make a big difference because in other parts of India, we are sending huge number of army officers. That arrangement is going on," he said.
