COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has decided to lift its ban on visiting foreign research ships, which was imposed after strong security concerns raised by India and the US due to frequent docking requests from high-tech Chinese surveillance vessels. The change, effective from next year, was communicated by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry to NHK World Japan.
The ban was originally implemented after New Delhi expressed concerns about the increasing presence of Chinese research vessels in the Indian Ocean, suspecting them to be spy ships. In response, Colombo restricted the entry of foreign research ships into its ports starting in January.
Despite the ban, Sri Lanka made an exception earlier this year for a Chinese vessel but stated that the restriction would otherwise remain in place.
Minister Sabry emphasized that Sri Lanka cannot apply different rules to different countries and block only China. He added that Sri Lanka will not take sides in disputes between other nations.
According to Sabry, the moratorium will be lifted in January of next year, after which Sri Lanka will no longer prohibit foreign research ships from docking at its ports.
Within a 14-month period ending in November 2023, two Chinese spy ships were allowed to dock at Sri Lanka ports, one for replenishment and the other for research purposes.
