Colombo clarifies on Chinese aid

G.L. Peiris

Sri Lanka will never act in a manner prejudicial to India’s national interests, Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris told Parliament here on Tuesday.

Mr. Peiris’ remarks came in response to a query from Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP), who referred to newspaper reports that Sri Lanka was planning to set up an aircraft maintenance base in Trincomalee with a $40-million investment from China.

Trincomalee is perceived as a strategic location and India's National Thermal Power Corporation is currently partnering Sri Lanka in building a power plant in Sampur, Trincomalee, extending a $ 200 million-line of credit for the project.

The Colombo-based

Sunday Times , in its political column last week, said New Delhi had voiced concerns over allowing China National Aero-Technology Import-Export Corporation to set up operations in Trincomalee.