Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said the country cannot engage in any activity which threatens the security of India and that they understand the importance of Indian concerns.
In an interview to Strategic News International, the President said they will not do anything that will harm India’s security interests. He requested the Government of India to help through investments, education and the development of technology.
Mr. Rajapaksa, who is scheduled to visit India later this week, said they want investments and help, but do not want to get involved in the military and geopolitical rivalry. He called upon countries like India, Singapore, Japan and Australia to come and invest and do not allow only China to make investments.
Mr. Gotabaya said their involvement with China in the last few years of Mahinda Rajapaksa government was purely commercial, but geopolitical analysts tried to show it as part of the String of Pearls, which circles India. He said Hambantota port was Sri Lanka’s requirement but agreed that they should have never given its control to China, adding that it was a mistake.
The President said they will request China to renegotiate and come with a better deal to assist them as people are not happy with the agreement.
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