Chinese energy giant Sinopec is expected to conclude a feasibility study by June for a proposed plant in Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port, sources have told Reuters. The plant, which is estimated to cost $4.5 billion, is expected to be the Chinese energy giant’s largest foreign investment abroad and is also being seen as a challenge […]Read More
The tiny, barren, uninhabited island of Katchatheevu has been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately. In this episode of ‘The Gist‘, Dr Arup Kumar Chatterjee, Professor of English, OP Jindal Global University, and author (Adam’s Bridge | Indians in London | Great Indian Railways) examines the historical, political and diplomatic aspects of […]Read More
There was a time when the Indian Navy sent its ships to patrol the waters from Rameswaram in India to Katchatheevu and Delft island in Sri Lanka: this was the time of the civil war against the Tamil Tigers and as part of its effort to help Colombo, Indian naval vessels were operationally deployed. Today, […]Read More
The Chinese government has assured Sri Lanka that it would assist the island nation’s debt restructuring process continuously and help Colombo to develop its economy. Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, Dinesh Gunawardena who is on a six-day visit to Beijing held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. Gunawardena after meeting Chinese leaders […]Read More
The economic situation in debt-stricken Sri Lanka has started to gradually improve following its worst economic crisis two years ago, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Thursday. Inflation has come down from a peak of 70% in 2022 to 5.9% last month and the country’s economy expanded in the second half of last year following […]Read More
NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka’s recent decision to enact a year-long moratorium on visits in its waters by foreign marine scientific research (MSR) vessels should give it some breathing space in the context of geopolitical rivalries and diplomatic pressures. Multiple elections are also on the horizon. However, Sri Lanka needs to formulate a robust strategy to […]Read More
NEW DELHI: Last week’s meeting of national security advisers (NSA) of the Colombo Security Conclave in Port Louis, Mauritius, reflected some of the political churn generated by Mohammad Muizzu’s election as president of the Maldives three months ago. That country’s NSA was the notable absentee in Port Louis though Maldives along with India and Sri […]Read More
NEW DELHI: Sinopec, a Chinese state-owned oil and gas enterprise, will be given the contract to build an oil refinery in the southern Sri Lankan port city of Hambantota, Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera has said. “There were only two bidders shortlisted and Vitol (Singapore) pulled out. That leaves only Sinopec and we will […]Read More
The China Sri Lanka Joint Centre for Education and Research (CSL-CER) of the University of Ruhuna has said that it has so far not reached any agreement with the Chinese research vessel Shi Yan Six—which has made a request to arrive in Lankan waters but is yet to receive government clearance—on any matter. Speaking to The […]Read More
NEW DELHI: No permission has yet been given to a Chinese ship that wants to dock in Sri Lanka next month; negotiations are on, says Sri Lankan foreign minister Ali Sabry. India has expressed security concerns over the docking of Shi Yan 6, supposedly a research/survey vessel. A year ago, a similar visit by another Chinese ship […]Read More
NEW DELHI: A storm is brewing in the waters around Sri Lanka and India and it has nothing to do with the weather. A Chinese survey vessel Shi Yan 6, has sought permission from Colombo to survey the waters off Sri Lanka next month, which would also involve docking at a harbour there. As Asiri […]Read More
Claiming that the bridge proposed to connect Sri Lanka and India would be the beginning of many unnecessary problems, the Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, has insisted that a referendum be held on the matter. Commenting on the proposed building of a bridge connecting Sri Lanka and India, he questioned whether the country was […]Read More
The balancing act of the Ranil Wickremesinghe Government, which it has been carrying out for over a year, will be subjected to a litmus test in the next few months as tensions have begun to rise within the government. While President Wickremesinghe’s main focus has been on pushing the economic recovery programme and addressing geopolitical […]Read More
Sri Lanka’s foreign policy stance is likely to be tested again next month with the planned arrival of another Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6, with many eyes focusing on how Colombo will manage the visit and proposed survey. The Sunday Morning learns that discussions have been held and that a final decision on granting […]Read More
NEW DELHI: The economic crisis in Sri Lanka may have stabilized but the road to recovery is an uphill task. India, like always, has been the first to help out its southern neighbour, with money as well as necessary aid. Pathfinders Foundation, a Sri Lankan independent think tank, was among the first to sound out […]Read More
NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka, India, and Japan: Until recently, a partnership involving these three countries may have merited little consideration. But Sri Lanka’s economic collapse last year, China’s refusal to help, and India’s rescue act have brought this issue to the fore India lacks the deep pockets and technological heft that can help its small […]Read More
NEW DELHI: Last week, during his visit to India, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe appreciated India’s ‘timely, unprecedented and crucial support’ to his country at a time it was in the throes of an unprecedented economic crisis. As the island nation looks to stabilize its economy and chart its future course, it’s looking towards India. […]Read More
NEW DELHI: There was no explicit mention of geopolitics in the vision document released at the end of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to India last week but both leaders did discuss the geopolitical situation (vis-à-vis China) just like they do whenever they meet, says Sri Lankan envoy to India Milinda Moragoda. The thrust […]Read More
Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe is in Delhi on his first visit since taking over as president last year amid economic collapse and political chaos. Addressing an Indian CEO’s forum a few days ago in Colombo, he said, “We need to determine our long-term objectives and aspirations for the next 10 to 15 years. This […]Read More
NEW DELHI: Exactly a year ago, Sri Lanka defaulted for the first time in its history. And now as Pakistan’s economic crisis deepens amid its currency crashing against the U.S. dollar with surging inflation, it almost seems like a replay. It is no surprise that the Pakistani rupee crashed to 288.5 against the US dollar […]Read More
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