Sri Lanka To Give Its Nod To Stalled Port City Project During PM's Visit To China

Sri Lankan and Chinese governments are expected to reach a final agreement to revive the stalled Colombo port city project during Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's forthcoming visit to China, top diplomatic sources told Asian Mirror. 

They said the Sri Lankan government would give its green light to China on the port-city with minor changes to some clauses of the original agreement. 

A high-level delegation led by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to visit China this year amid efforts to strengthen ties, Xinhua news agency reported. 

However, the Sri Lankan government is yet to announce the date of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe's visit to China. 

"During the visit, several key areas are expected to be discussed by both sides including the resumption of the suspended projects. China is a key partner for Sri Lanka and this government is committed to further boosting ties," a minister of the Sri Lankan government, speaking to Xinhua, had said.

President Maithripala Sirisena, who defeated former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa in a presidential election in January last year, himself visited China in March -- his second official visit since winning the presidency.

Although there were immediate reports that relations between the two countries soured with the suspension of the Chinese-backed projects, Sirisena has expressed his will to seek further improved ties between the two countries.