Sri Lanka is in talks to offer the port of Trincomalee to India. Speaking on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialoguehere, Colombo’s Minister of Regional Development Mr Fonseka, said that the decision on offering the port to India will be taken soon.
What is Raisina Dialogue?
The Raisina Dialogue is an annual conference held in New Delhi, envisioned to be India's flagship conference of geopolitics and geo-economics.
Its inaugural session was held from March 1 through 3rd in 2016. The conference name comes from Raisina Hill, which is the location of both the Government of India as well as the presidential palace of India.
What Sri Lankan Regional Minister told?
“Talks are at present going on between India and Sri Lanka and we hope to offer the Trincomalee port, which is one of the best deep sea ports in the world, to India,” he said.
Trincomalee has been on the table for sometime as Sri Lanka wants to maintain a neutral stand and provide equal access to its ports to both China and India.
Sri Lanka’s experience with the Chinese, who carried out major infrastructural work at the Hambantota port in southern coast of the island nation, has put a heavy burden on the country, said Mr Fonseka.
“Our experience with the Chinese on Hambantota has not been very beneficial as we are facing a heavy debt burden due to the work done in that port. We have currently given the port to a private entity so that some of the more immediate issues are resolved. This arrangement will also address India’s security concerns,” said Mr. Fonseka, indicating that Sri Lanka is willing to address India’s concerns.
Mr Fonseka also said that Sri Lanka will remain committed to the fight against terrorism and extremist violence in the region and beyond.
