China to train Lankan army, to provide military technology

Beijing: Firming up its ties with Sri Lanka, China has granted fresh development loan worth $2.2 billion for infrastructure projects and agreed to provide defence technology as well as training to the island nation’s army. Both sides agreed to further deepen defence cooperation and maintain exchanges between the two defence ministries and would continue to carry out cooperating in defence technology, personal training and other fields, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei told a media briefing in Beijing on Friday. [caption id=“attachment_831513” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Associated Press[/caption] He was replying to questions on the just concluded visit by Sri Lankan President Mahenda Rajapaksa during which both the nations signed a defence agreement besides a host of deals to beef up infrastructure projects in the country, deepening China’s foothold there. Hong did not disclose the details of the agreements including the one related to development of Colombo port and read out some of the highlights from joint statement issued by both the countries. According to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister GL Peiris, China has offered $2.2 billion worth of new loans. The countries agreed on $1.5 billion investment of private sector in the northern express highway linking Kandy in the central part of Sri Lanka to Jaffna in the north, he earlier told the media in Beijing. The two sides agreed on the extension of a railway, the southern highway and the development of the port of Colombo, Peiris said. This is in addition to the construction of Hambantota Port with the multi billion dollar assistance of China. According to reports in Sri Lankan media, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told Rjapaksa during their meeting that China will explore the possibility of establishing an industrial zone in Hambantota. China will support Sri Lanka to develop capabilities in satellite communication, space technology and maritime industries, he said. PTI