Sri Lanka permits much-disputed Chinese research vessel to dock

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has allowed the Harbour Master to grant permission to the Chinese ballistic missile- and satellite-tracking vessel Yuan Wang 5 to dock at the Hambantota Port from August 16 - 22.

Harbour Master Nimal P. Silva told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that he received clearance from the Foreign Ministry to let the ship to make a port call at Hambantota.

“The diplomatic clearance was received by me today. We will work with the local agent appointed by the vessel to ensure logistics at the port,” he told AFP.

It is reported that Colombo initially granted permission for the vessel to dock at Hambantota on July 12, a day before former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country giving in to months-long protests.

According to AFP, the port officials have said the Chinese vessel was about 1,000km (620 miles) south-east of Sri Lanka as of Friday night (Aug 12) and was heading towards Hambantota.

The much-disputed 730-foot-long ship was initially scheduled to dock at the Hambantota Port between August 11 and 17, however, Sri Lanka made a request from Beijing to defer the arrival.

The request for deferment came after India voiced strong concerns on the matter and said it carefully monitors any developments having a bearing on its security and economic interests, and takes all necessary to safeguard them.

China, in response to India’s concerns, said it hoped “relevant parties” would refrain from interfering with its legitimate maritime activities and stressed that it was “senseless to pressure” Colombo by citing the issue of security concerns.

As diplomatic tensions were growing, Sri Lanka clarified that permission and clearance were given to the Chinese vessel for “replenishment”. The vessel will conduct satellite control and research tracking in the north-western part of the Indian Ocean region through August and September, the Sri Lankan government said further.

Meanwhile, India on Friday (Aug 12) categorically rejected insinuation by China which claimed that Sri Lanka’s neighbour is pressuring the island nation over Chinese ballistic missile and satellite-tracking vessel’s planned visit to Hambantota.

Amidst the row over the Chinese vessel, Sri Lanka allowed a Pakistani warship PNS Taimur to make a port call in Colombo on Friday. According to Sri Lanka Navy, this Pakistani-guided missile frigate built by Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai, is in Colombo for a formal visit.

-with inputs from agencies