The head of the Sri Lankan navy has reassured India over concern it recently expressed over China’s influence in the country.
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera told ANI that there is no Chinese military presence on the island, and that Beijing’s interest in Sri Lanka was commercial.
“We have very good co-operation with India. We will never compromise on national security of India. India's security is our security. Not only Chinese, even the Russians and other countries also we have very good relationship, we are non-aligned country," he said.
"They are coming normally for operational goodwill visit... For your information there is no Chinese military presence.... the interest is very commercial."
The Vice Admiral thanked India for its support and said he was a “personal friend” of India.
"I must thank India. They whole heartedly supported to relegate terrorism, now we are very fast track on development and because of that there are lot of investors coming here in Sri Lanka purely on commercial and we will never compromise on security of any other country, especially India, because I am a personal friend of India..." he said.
India concerned at China's presence in Sri Lanka - The Hindu (25 October 2014)
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