President Wickeremsinghe was misquoted saying ‘China is using Hambanthotta as a military port’
A news story was published recently on ‘Oruvan’ website stating ‘China is using Hambantota as a military port; Ranil has protested in the United States’.
by Anonymous |
September 25, 2023
The said news story further stated that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed concern over China’s use of Hambantota as a military port while attending and addressing the ‘3rd Indo-Pacific Island countries’ dialogue for maritime countries held in New York on 18 September in association with the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
However, FactSeeker observed that the news story published on ‘Oruvan’ website is a misinterpretation.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who participated in the talks with the Indo-Pacific Island countries addressed the question raised about the Hambantota port. President Wickremesinghe in response to a question noted, “Sri Lanka expressed concerns over the labeling of the Hambantota commercial port as a Chinese military base. The country is developing the Trincomalee harbour in cooperation with India, and intends to raise the matter at international forums”
Therefore, FactSeeker confirms that President Wickeremesinghe did not mention that China is using the Hambantota Port as a military base in this discussion.
The text of the full speech delivered by President Wickeremsinghe at the same event has been attached here.
