Defence Ministry says workers at Tissawewa are not members of the Chinese Army

The Defence Ministry has confirmed that the Chinese employees reportedly wearing military style camouflage uniforms at an ongoing project in Tissawewa in Tissamaharamaya were not members of the Chinese Army.

The Defence Ministry said that it has already contacted the Chinese embassy and requested them to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

The full statement of the Defence Ministry follows:

Circulation of information on the ongoing project to remove silt in the ‘Tissawewa’ tank in Tissamaharamaya, run by a private company, manning Chinese employees who were reportedly wearing controversial military style camouflage uniforms has been highlighted in the media.

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka,  following a query made by the  Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), has affirmed that the said employees are not members of the People’s Liberation Army and it is the respective overseas company’s overall uniform entitled to the staffers.

Further, the Defence Secretary has informed the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka, to educate the respective employer to refrain its employees from wearing the controversial military style camouflage uniforms in future and the Ministry of Defence also informed the local private company to avoid the recurrence of such action henceforth.

Furthermore, Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) has directed the Southern Province Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police to thwart any further attempt of such nature.