Sri Lanka says military vessels can’t use Chinesebuilt southern port

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s cabinet cleared a revised agreement for its Chinese-built southern port of Hambantota on Tuesday, the government said, after terms of the first pact sparked widespread public anger in the island nation.

The port, close to the world’s busiest shipping lanes, has been mired in controversy since state-run China Merchants Port Holdings , which built it for $1.5 billion, signed an agreement taking an 80% stake.

Under the new deal, which Reuters has examined, the Sri Lankan government has sought to limit China’s role to running commercial operations at the port while it has oversight of broader security.

Ports minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said several foreign missions, including India, had sought clarification from Colombo about whether the Chinese Navy would be using Hambantota port as it steps up its presence in the Indian Ocean.

“We told China that we can’t allow the port for military use and that 100 percent responsibility of security matters should be with the Sri Lankan government.”